Tim Benz: Annual 'What the Steelers didn't get in the draft' column has very different tone this year

My annual “What the Steelers didn’t get in the NFL Draft” column is going to take on a different tone this year.

That’s because a quote from coach Mike Tomlin before the draft actually resonates more now than it did Monday.

“We’ve been able to do some things in free agency that I feel like provides a clean slate for us from a draft perspective,” Tomlin said during the club’s pre-draft news conference. “We don’t have any glaring needs.”

At the time, I didn’t necessarily agree with that. I thought the lack of high-end talent and depth at tackle, as well as the need for a starting-capable cornerback, were pretty “glaring.”

So the Steelers addressed both of those issues in the first two rounds by trading up to draft Georgia tackle Broderick Jones and taking Penn State corner Joey Porter Jr. with the first pick in the second round.

After that, the Steelers assembled a lot of players who could do multiple things. Second-round defensive lineman Keeanu Benton appears capable of being a nose tackle and a defensive end. Fourth-round outside linebacker Nick Herbig could potentially bump inside if things don’t work out on the edge.

And third-round tight end Darnell Washington is so big (6-foot-7, 270 pounds) he may be able to play tackle as well.

At the same time. On the same snap. Maybe both tackle positions and tight end at once.

Along with depth veterans who the Steelers acquired in March and April at guard, wide receiver, safety, inside linebacker and defensive line, Tomlin’s pre-draft opinion that the team doesn’t have any “glaring needs” is closer to accurate than it was a few days ago.

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That doesn’t mean the team’s depth chart is 100% sound heading into spring practices. No team can honestly boast that. But at least the Steelers appear to be just “thin” in places after the draft, as opposed to some of those “holes” that need training camp trades or signings to patch over before the season actually begins.

Here’s where the Steelers still might want to bulk up in undrafted free agency or via some moves in the summer.

A third quarterback: There was a strong potential the Steelers would draft a late-round quarterback. Without a fifth- or sixth-round pick, they didn’t. But they did reportedly sign a free-agent prospect once the draft ended. The NFL Network says it’s Tanner Morgan from Minnesota.

Maybe Morgan is just a camp arm. Maybe he is legitimately someone they want to develop as a third quarterback. Currently, though, Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky are the only other quarterbacks on the roster.

As of now, Mason Rudolph is still a free agent. Given the lack of quarterback talent available, until I see him sign elsewhere or until the Steelers open the regular season without him on the roster, I’m not going to rule out the option of him coming back to Pittsburgh.

Running back depth: Jaylen Warren emerged as a worthy second option to Najee Harris last year. So, again, this is by no means an overwhelming need.

Anthony McFarland has been on the team since 2020. He was released in August of last year but signed back to the practice squad the next day and retained on a futures contract in January. So the Steelers may still have plans for him. But right now, he is the third back, and he has only played in three games over the last two years.

Unless Master Teague or Jason Huntley are viable options to dress if Harris or Warren get hurt, the Steelers may want to give a long look at an undrafted rookie or pick up someone off the street.

Another wide receiver: Once the Steelers acquired Allen Robinson in a trade April 21, I assumed the organization was dialing back its interest in the wide receiver pool. That’s not surprising. It wasn’t as deep as it normally is.

Also, the Steelers used a skill position pick on Washington at tight end.

“There are multiple ways to add to your talent pool. We’ve done some things in free agency. We are really excited about the acquisition of Allen Robinson. Last year we ran into Jaylen Warren at the rookie minicamp. We’ll keep team building,” Tomlin said.

There were some who felt the Steelers weren’t all that interested in this year’s receivers even before the draft because they still have faith that Anthony Miller and Calvin Austin III can help in 2023 if their season-ending injuries from last year are healed.

Bypassing receivers entirely in the draft will give us all a chance to see that with our own eyes if George Pickens, Diontae Johnson or Robinson get hurt at all this season.

A long-term investment at inside linebacker: Some see Herbig as a potential inside linebacker. But according to Steelers outside linebacker coach Denzel Martin, that’s not the plan.

“Right now, he’s going to start at outside linebacker. That’s where we have him,” Martin said. “He’s definitely athletic enough to (play inside). But we’re going to start him at that outside ‘backer and try to make a big-time player out of him there first.”

During free agency, the Steelers signed Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts to address that need. Second-year backup Mark Robinson has shown some initial flashes that he may have a future there.

But the dead cap number for Roberts in 2024 is just $1.16 million. So he may just end up being a short-term placeholder. And if Roberts isn’t an answer to start next to Holcomb (for what would be the last two years of his deal by then), the Steelers may be back to their annual hunt for an answer at that position again next spring.

Sticking at No. 80 in the third round and taking Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson would’ve made a ton of sense. The Baltimore Ravens got him at No. 83 instead. Although trading down with the Carolina Panthers and getting an interesting piece like Washington at No. 93 — and Herbig with the additional fourth-round selection — may make up for that.

The heir apparent to Cameron Heyward: Based on quotes from defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Benton is going to be more of a nose tackle than a 3-4 end on the Steelers defense to start his career.

“We’ll probably start him inside as a nose and let him grow into it and see what he does. But he’s not strictly that,” Austin said.

So Benton could, perhaps, be someone of Heyward’s ilk. Or maybe he’ll turn into what Javon Hargrave became as he was leaving the Steelers via free agency at the end of the 2019 season.

Meanwhile, a year after DeMarvin Leal was drafted, most around the team continue to suggest he is still an intriguing ball of clay that will continue to get polished and become … something. But his tweener status remains unchanged with the defense as currently constructed.

Breiden Fehoko, Montravius Adams, Isaiahh Loudermilk and Armon Watts will all be part of a beefed-up defensive line rotation behind Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi. But none of them even approaches the pedigree or investment recently made in Benton and Leal.

To be honest, unless the Steelers wound up with Clemson’s Bryan Bresee in the late first or early second round, the “second coming of Cam” wasn’t likely to be found in this year’s draft.

At 33 and seemingly refusing to age, Heyward may be making such a concern moot anyway.

Podcast: Tim Benz and Chris Adamski analyze the Steelers draft