The 25 most likely Steelers defensive targets in 2022 draft

Steelers defensive prospect #2

The top two names both happen to be Georgia defensive linemen, although one seems like a more natural fit than the other on paper. The second-best fitting prospect based on the outlined criteria is Devonte Wyatt. A fun defensive lineman to watch, Wyatt plays with a lot of physicality and was a force on an already talented Bulldogs defensive line.

Wyatt is a good technician as a lineman, using a combination of pass rush moves and good hand placement to beat opposing offensive linemen. He was consistently beating some of the top names in college football on a weekly basis. His 2021 tape showed a lot of development in his game as well, and he is very much a complete defensive line prospect.

The issue I have with him is his fit on the Steelers defense. His size makes him seem like a nose tackle, but he lacks the functional strength to excel there. He is far too small to play either end spot as well. While his talent would likely make him still productive in this system, he would truly benefit from playing in a 4-3 front more. Even with base defenses more skewed than usual, Wyatt would get the most out of playing in a different system. Add in his first-round billing and it seems unlikely that he is the pick despite checking so many boxes.