Steelers draft: Defensive prospects for the later rounds

Defensive line prospects for the Steelers:

With Javon Hargrave having taken his talents to Philadelphia, the Steelers need to add depth on the defensive line. I’ve done the research and have found a handful of players who would fit the bill, as well as a couple of D-linemen who might be able to transition to linebacker in the next couple of years.

James Lynch, DL, Baylor: Round 4

Don’t mistake Lynch for Brett Keisel or Aaron Smith. No, he is not either of those guys on the field as of yet, but he has the size and attributes that the Steelers could mold. At 6′ 4″ and 289 lbs, Lynch has the size the Steelers look for in their ends. He also gets off the ball quickly and his 2019 stats reveal the results. With 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, Lynch’s production his junior year should have scouts and draftniks salivating, but he seems to be gliding slightly under the radar. I’m not sure why.

At his size, the 7.39 second and 4.39 second 3 cone and short shuttle drills are more than adequate, and when you watch him play you see a tough guy who likes to hit people. While I wouldn’t compare him to the Steelers greats referenced earlier in this overview, I do see a little bit of Derek Wolfe from the Denver Broncos – a blue-collar guy who outworks the competition and produces every time he takes the field.

Alex Highsmith, DL, Charlotte: Round 6

Highsmith reminds me of the type of player the Steelers would have drafted to become an OLB in the good old days, between 1990 and 2006. While most teams looked for DE’s to fill out their 4-3 defenses, the Steelers feasted on the tweeners. Things have changed since then and now practically everyone looks for guys like Highsmith, but because he needs to get stronger, I think there’s a chance the Steelers will find him available in round 6.

At 6′ 3″ inches and 248 lbs, he has prototypical size to play outside linebacker. His 4.7-second 40-yard dash was a tenth of a second slower than what T.J. Watt posted at the combine, and his 3 cone(7.32 seconds) and short shuttle (4.31 seconds) show he has the ability to change direction in space. He’s not Watt or Von Miller, but on film, you see a guy who could start out on special teams and as a situational pass rusher while he hits the weight room for a couple of years.

Jason Strowbridge, DL, North Carolina: Round 6

That Strowbridge is not 15 pounds heavier is a blessing in disguise for the Steelers. At 6′ 4″ inches and 275 lbs, the former Tarheel from North Carolina is slightly confusing for teams trying to determine whether he’s a 4-3 base end or a 3-4 five-technique.

I don’t know the answer to that question, but I do know that he has the athleticism (4.89-second 40-yard dash, 7.45 second 3 cone, 4.37 short shuttle) to navigate the trenches while he uses his strength and violent demeanor to make offensive linemen uncomfortable. The dude blocked 4 kicks during his career at UNC. I say draft him in the 6th, put him in the weight room, feed him until he hits 290 lbs, and have a quality special teams player and backup DL who costs you very little.

Okay, well, that’s it for my defensive prospects that the Steelers might find in later rounds. Next up, we’ll be digging further into the data in hopes of understanding what the black and gold might be able to do about that backup QB situation. Cool?  Cool. Be safe out there. Don’t breathe on people. Cough into your elbow. Stop buying up all the TP and hug your kids. I’m out.