Steelers training camp positional breakdown: Defense

DEFENSE

Defensive linemen

97 CAMERON HEYWARD · 6-5 · 295

Will he ever age? Last year, at 35 and coming off an injury-riddled season that was one of his least productive, Heyward was named first-team AP NFL All Pro for the first time since 2021 and fourth time overall.

95 KEEANU BENTON · 6-4 · 309

Last year was supposed to be the year Benton took over as the Steelers’ top defensive tackle. Heyward’s reemergence is only part of the reason why that didn’t happen. The other was that Benton failed to blossom, as many predict he will — at some point.

99 DERRICK HARMON · 6-4 · 313

Harmon graded out by Pro Football Focus as one of the best defensive linemen in college football last season, and he is regarded as an immediate contributor. A first-round pick, Harmon has a high floor in addition to a high ceiling.

96 DANIEL EKUALE · 6-3 · 300

A first-time starter last season for New England, Ekuale has 57 regular-season games of experience since 2019. He’s best slotted in as a rotational piece, likely the fourth D-lineman for the Steelers this season.

94 DEAN LOWRY · 6-6 · 296

Entering his 10th season, Lowry is no longer the impact player he was over seven seasons with the Packers. But if he’s your fifth D-lineman, that’s pretty good. If he can stay healthy, Lowry is an ideal spot starter.

98 DeMARVIN LEAL · 6-4 · 290

This is Leal’s fourth season, his final chance to show he can harness his considerable talents before his rookie contract expires. Part of the issue is that he doesn’t have a set position — listed as a lineman, Leal reps more with the outside linebackers these days.

92 ISAIAHH LOUDERMILK · 6-7 · 293

Loudermilk was brought back for a fifth season in March after his rookie contract had expired. He’s never really come close to being a high-impact player but is versatile, reliable, coachable and respected. So, he’s a good depth piece.

74 LOGAN LEE · 6-5 · 286

A sixth-round pick last year, Lee spent his rookie season on injured reserve. He was viewed as having value on the D-line. The position room has changed, so it will be interesting to see what Lee’s role is.

78 YAHYA BLACK · 6-5 · 336

A former teammate of Lee’s at Iowa, Black was a fifth-round pick this year. He’s the Steelers biggest D-lineman and figures to play a role at nose tackle and in stopping the run.

72 ESEZI OTOMEWO · 6-5 · 282

Otomewo has nine regular-season games of NFL experience, including four (two starts) last season for the Jaguars. Signed to a one-year contract in March, he is fighting to secure a reserve role along with special teams play.

79 JACOB SLADE · 6-4 · 305

A four-year contributor at Michigan State, Slade signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent and had stints on their practice squad as a rookie in 2023. He spent all of last year with the Steelers, including their practice squad during the regular season.

69 DOMENIQUE DAVIS · 6-2 · 326

Coming out of Division II in 2020, Davis has bounced around between the Jets, Bengals and the USFL in addition to undergoing surgery. In his fifth year since turning pro, the Steelers signed him to their practice squad in October and he’s stuck with them since.

Outside linebackers

90 T.J. WATT · 6-4 · 252

Fresh off signing three-year contract extension that made him the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL, what more can be expected of the 10-time Pro Bowl selection? Watt led the team with 11.5 sacks in 2024.

56 ALEX HIGHSMITH · 6-4 · 242

If the Bengals’ Tee Higgins can declare himself the NFL’s highest-paid No. 2 WR, I wonder where Highsmith would rank among teams’ No. 2 edge rushers? He’s in Year 2 of a four-year, $68 million contract.

51 NICK HERBIG · 6-2 · 240

In terms of pass-rushing skills alone, there might not be a “backup” edge defender better than Herbig, who has 8 ½ sacks and six forced fumbles while playing about a third of the defensive snaps his first two NFL seasons.

33 JACK SAWYER · 6-4 · 260

One of the stars of Ohio State’s run to the national championship, Sawyer was a fourth-round pick who’s already drawn plenty of attention. For 2025, barring injury, he’s buried behind three established OLBs.

49 JEREMIAH MOON · 6-5 · 247

In his first season with the Steelers after getting waived by the Ravens, Moon was a core special teamer. He was far down the OLB depth chart in 2024 but played some because of injury.

53 EKU LEOTA · 6-4 · 257

Leota made the Panthers as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and had a sack in last season’s opener. But they cut him, and the Steelers picked him up in September. Because of a spate of injuries, Leota played in one game for the Steelers.

45 JULIUS WELSCHOF · 6-6 · 265

Born in Germany and not exposed to football until his teens, Welschof quickly picked up the sport and got recruited to Michigan. Now 28, time is running out — but Welschof shows enough potential the Steelers have kept him.

Inside linebackers

6 PATRICK QUEEN · 6-0 · 232

The most expensive external free agent the Steelers have ever signed ($41 million over three seasons), Queen played every defensive snap of the season in 2024. Big plays, though, generally were absent.

41 PAYTON WILSON · 6-4 · 242

Playing fewer than half the snaps as a third-round rookie in 2024, the reigning national college defensive player of the year showed flashes. Now, taking on a full-time role, expectations increase.

55 COLE HOLCOMB · 6-1 · 240

Holcomb was solid if unspectacular in his first season after signing as a free agent in 2023, but a serious knee injury kept him out all of last season. Can he return to full enough health to contribute in 2025?

50 MALIK HARRISON · 6-3 · 247

Over five seasons with the Ravens, Harrison played both on the edge and at off-ball linebacker. He was a special-teams stalwart, too — surely, a big reason the Steelers gave him a two-year, $10 million contract in March.

44 CARSON BRUENER · 6-1 · 227

The son of former Steelers tight end and current team scout Mark Bruener, the younger Bruener was a seventh-round pick out of Washington. The expectation is he’s going to be a core special teamer for years to come.

93 MARK ROBINSON · 5-11 · 235

The signing of Harrison and drafting of Bruener might mean the end of the Steelers tenure of Robinson, a seventh-round pick in 2022 who has mostly played special teams and in run-stop packages. Last season, he played just eight defensive snaps.

40 DEVIN HARPER · 6-0 · 234

Harper has 12 regular-season games of NFL experience — almost all of it on special teams — with the Cowboys and Bengals. Cut by Cincinnati at the end of last year’s preseason, he spent the whole regular season on the Steelers’ practice squad.

Cornerbacks

24 JOEY PORTER JR. · 6-2 · 193

After a very promising rookie season, Porter did not make an anticipated ascension to stardom in Year 2. He instead plateaued in 2024, leading all NFL defensive players in penalties.

JALEN RAMSEY · 6-1 · 211

Acquired in one of the more surprising and consequential offseason trades in franchise history, Ramsey has built a rep as one of the game’s best shutdown corners. But he’s paid like it, now 30 years old and coming off a mediocre season.

23 DARIUS SLAY · 6-0 · 192

The “other” big-name, 30-something veteran CB the Steelers acquired this offseason, Slay has been an All-Pro (in 2017) and won a Super Bowl ring (last season). At 34, though, is he just the Steelers’ latest Patrick Peterson-like experiment?

27 CORY TRICE JR. · 6-3 · 206

Trice earned his first NFL start in the regular-season finale but was a scratch in the playoffs. He missed all of his 2023 rookie season because of a torn ACL. Bringing in Ramsey and Slay signals the Steelers don’t see Trice as ready to start.

26 BRANDIN ECHOLS · 5-10 · 179

Signed to a two-year, $6 million free-agent contract, Echols spent four seasons with the Jets after they drafted him in 2021’s sixth round. He has played both on the outside and in the nickel/slot and served as a core special teamer.

31 BEANIE BISHOP JR. · 5-9 · 182

An undrafted rookie from West Virginia, Bishop began the season as the Steelers’ top slot guy — making six starts and totaling four interceptions. But by the end of the season, he was barely part of the defense.

42 JAMES PIERRE · 6-2 · 185

Since making the team as an undrafted rookie in 2020, Pierre has appeared in 81 of the Steelers’ 84 games over that time. He spent five months last year with the Commanders organization but was brought back and is a special-teams favorite.

34 DONTE KENT · 5-10 · 189

A seventh-round pick after being a four-year starter at Central Michigan, Kent has a better chance of making an immediate impact as a punt returner than he does on defense. A Harrisburg native, perhaps he can play in the slot.

5 D’SHAWN JAMISON · 5-9 · 186

Another longshot option to be a return man, Jamison appeared in 15 regular-season games for the Panthers as a rookie two years ago. Jamison spent the final 15 weeks of last year’s regular season on the Steelers’ practice squad.

35 CAMERON McCUTCHEON · 6-1 · 204

Big and physical, McCutcheon spent his 2023 rookie season on the Rams’ practice squad and joined the Steelers via a reserve/future deal this past January. He played at two FCS programs in college.

37 KYLER McMICHAEL · 6-0 · 210

A high school All-American, McMichael played three college seasons split between Clemson and North Carolina before declaring early for the draft and going undrafted. The Steelers are the fourth organization for which he’s played. He has no regular-season NFL experience.

Safeties

25 DESHON ELLIOTT · 6-0 · 210

When Elliott received a two-year, $12.5 million extension last month, it looked like a reward after a solid first season with the Steelers. Now, after the trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick, it looks like Elliott is in for a more prominent role in 2025.

22 JUAN THORNHILL · 6-0 · 205

Who knows how the secondary will shake out now that Ramsey is on board, but Thornhill for the time being is nailed in as the No. 2 safety. In his career, he plays traditional free safety most.

28 MILES KILLEBREW · 6-2 · 222

While Killebrew will contribute in small doses in sub packages on defense, his value to the Steelers is on special teams as the unit’s captain and punt-blocker extraordinaire. A 10-year veteran, Killebrew is a “core” special teamer.

29 SEBASTIAN CASTRO · 5-11 · 203

One of the more intriguing undrafted rookies, Castro was a playmaking three-year starter at Iowa. Though he played a lot of slot/nickel corner in college, Castro was getting reps at strong safety during OTAs and minicamp.

35 QUINDELL JOHNSON · 6-0 · 208

A late addition to the roster signed June 4, Johnson has nine games of NFL regular-season experience — all with the Bears in 2023. Undrafted, he’s also spent time in the Rams and 49ers organizations.