A foolproof plan for Steelers to improve the DL in 2023

What the Steelers should do in house

As of this writing, the only players from this group under contract are Heyward, Leal, Loudermilk, and Adams. Of that group, Heyward is the only one I’m counting on to see significant starting snaps in 2023.

That doesn’t mean Leal won’t have a role. At this point, my main focus with Leal would be making him an interior pass rusher for nickel and dime defense. That seems to be his best-fit long-term. He can also still kick around as a backup to various spots, but my goal for him would be for him to take on that pass rusher role in 2023.

Loudermilk and Adams are very replaceable options but should be carried to camp at least to see what this team has to offer in terms of depth. While many will say to cut Adams due to his slightly larger cap hit, he isn’t earning that much, and he provides you with some depth in the position. At least carry him through the draft to ensure you get the players you want at nose tackle.

From there, I expect Alualu to retire. He was pretty bad this season, and at his age, I doubt he wants to keep playing and have to relocate to do so. If he is adamant about playing though, it shouldn’t be in Pittsburgh.

I also wouldn’t actively try to resign Ogunjobi or Wormley. Ogunjobi was an above-average player, but he isn’t a great fit for a base end for this team given his size. He also has a lot of name value, and that earned him 8 million dollars last season. Frankly, I don’t think he was worth that much.

Wormley is a different story. I do think the team would be interested in bringing him back (more on that in free agency, but his torn ACL will likely limit him into the next season. Because of this, I think the team looks elsewhere.