Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is on the horizon, and fans will have their eyes glued to phones and computers if only to catch a glimpse of the action. The Steelers had immense roster turnover during the 2025 offseason, and the projected camp battles at several important positions are going to be tight.
One of those positions is the interior defensive line. Larry Ogunjobi is no longer in the mix after joining the Buffalo Bills in free agency, but Pittsburgh spent two of its top four draft choices in 2025 on the defensive tackles, Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black.
Likewise, the Steelers signed former Patriots starter Daniel Ekuale, while 2024 draft pick Logan Lee could fight for a roster spot after an injury-plagued rookie season. Of course, Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton are going to see a lion's share of the snaps along the interior defensive line.
But one veteran and former Steelers draft pick could be entering his last ever training camp battle.
Isaiahh Loudermilk could be getting his final shot with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025
Isaiahh Loudermilk is getting set to enter his fifth training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This team once had high hopes for the defensive lineman. Now, entering Year 5, the coaching staff can only hope that Loudermilk performs well enough to warrant a spot at the very bottom of the roster.
In the 2021 NFL Draft, former general manager Kevin Colbert traded a 2022 fourth-round pick to move back up into the fifth round of the draft and select Loudermilk with the 156th overall pick. Colbert was intrigued by the 3-4 defensive end at Wisconsin and believed he would fit right in with the Steelers' odd-man front in their base defense.
Sadly, this experiment never went according to plan. Entering the NFL at 6'6 3/8'' and 274 pounds, Loudermilk had a lean, awkward build, and his 32 5/8'' arms didn't help make up for his lack of mass. Though Loudermilk has put on weight over the years, he never became the two-gapping run defender the Steelers were hoping for when they drafted him, and his pass rush presence is virtually non-existent.
Loudermilk made his biggest impact as a rookie when he recorded just 23 tackles and three passes defended while making two starts in 15 games. His snaps and production went downhill from there. Now entering his fifth NFL season, Loudermilk has recorded just one sack and one tackle for a loss on 807 defensive snaps.
The Steelers most often keep six interior defenders on their final 53-man roster—this includes 3-4 base defensive ends and nose tackles. Three players who will undoubtedly make the cut this year are Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and first-round rookie Derrick Harmon. That likely leaves just three spots left. Veteran Daniel Ekuale will likely claim a roster spot, as should rookie fifth-round pick Yahya Black.
This means that between Loudermilk, DeMarvin Leal, Logan Lee, and Dean Lowry, there's just one spot up for grabs. Early projections would point toward Lee earning this role, as he still has three years remaining on his rookie contract and has experience at both 3-4 end and nose tackle.
Loudermilk turns 28 years old early in the 2025 season. Theoretically, he should be entering the prime of his career. However, his gross lack of production and microscopic improvements over the years could make it hard for the veteran to even earn a training camp invite next offseason.
The Steelers retained Isaiahh Loudermilk on a one-year, veteran minimum contract, but he's hardly guaranteed to make it through training camp and the preseason. His spot on the roster this year is nowhere near a lock. After the front office made it a point to add depth to the interior defensive line during the 2025 offseason, Loudermilk not only would be on his way out of Pittsburgh, but he could be on his way out of the league altogether.