Steelers execute trade, select Wisconsin DE Isaiahh Loudermilk in 5th round

Entering the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers had 11 players capable of playing somewhere on the defensive line on their offseason roster.

And despite that position group being universally regarded as the weakest in this year’s class, the Steelers traded into the fifth round Saturday to grab another big body for their front three.

The Steelers sent a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins and selected Wisconsin defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk with the No. 156 overall choice.

That gives the Steelers a dozen candidates on an offseason roster that can go no higher than 90 players.

“I come from the South. What we say down there is that defensive linemen are just like pretty women,” defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said. “There’s not a lot of them, and everybody wants some.”

The trade to acquire Loudermilk was curious for several reasons. The NFL’s scouting website had Loudermilk ranked as a priority free agent, and Kevin Colbert admitted Monday defensive line was “probably as lean as it’s been in recent memory.”

That didn’t stop the Steelers, who bypassed cornerback and outside linebacker in the round, from selecting the 6-foot-6 senior who weighed 274 pounds at Wisconsin’s pro day.

“We figured he wouldn’t be there in the sixth,” Dunbar said. “We made the move, and I’m glad we did.”

Loudermilk said he lost about 20 pounds in the offseason, leading to speculation he could transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Loudermilk, however, said he has pushed his weight back into the 280s and was told to keep gaining muscle.

“I just wanted to drop weight to get more healthy,” Loudermilk said. “It was a lot of speed training, 40 training. I was eating healthy. I’m still eating healthy. I’m just eating more now so I can put the weight back on.”

Dunbar confirmed Loudermilk was drafted as a defensive lineman.

“He’ll play everything from a five technique to a zero nose,” he said.

Loudermilk made 26 starts in 40 games at Wisconsin. He recorded 63 tackles, including 11 1/2 for loss, and 7 1/2 sacks in his career.

Loudermilk projects as a backup behind starting defensive ends Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt. The Steelers are particularly deep on the defensive line, re-signing Chris Wormley and nose tackle Tyson Alualu in free agency. The Steelers also have defensive ends Isaiah Buggs, Abdullah Anderson, T.J. Carter, Henry Mondeaux and Calvin Taylor in addition to defensive tackles Demarcus Christmas and Carlos Davis on the roster.