It's not hard to follow the trail of clues to where the Pittsburgh Steelers could be focused with their top pick in the NFL Draft. Since the conclusion of the 2024 season, most fans knew which positions the front office could focus on. Now, the vision is clearer than ever.
March was a pivotal month in determining Pittsburgh's direction in April's draft. The Steelers began the month with over a dozen notable players set to hit the free-agent market. Many of these players went on to sign with new teams in free agency. However, roster additions by the front office crossed a few significant needs off the list.
On March 9, the Steelers executed a blockbuster trade for two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf. What many considered to be the biggest area of weakness on the team—the wide receiver position—was now suddenly a strength. And barring a George Pickens trade, receiver moved way down on the list of draft priorities.
The Steelers also opted for a short-term fix at the cornerback position when they inked former Philadelphia Eagles CB Darius Slay to a one-year, $10 million contract that included $8.745 million at signing.
This trail of breadcrumbs leads us straight to the interior defensive line.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' top positional target in the NFL Draft points to the defensive line
Nobody will deny that quarterback is potentially the biggest need on the team. However, most NFL insiders expect Aaron Rodgers to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers at this stage, proloning the search for a long-term QB for at least one more season. While the Steelers could still draft a quarterback, the underwhelming crop of talent suggests this won't come in Round 1.
Instead, we see the arrow pointing directly at the interior defensive line. The Steelers did nothing of importance to address the position in free agency, while the front office elected to release veteran defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi.
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Additionally, Cameron Heyward will turn 36 years old shortly after the 2025 draft and could be playing his last NFL season this year. This leaves Keeanu Benton, Pittsburgh's second-round pick in 2023, as the only interior defender to build around.
For a team that has always been known for having impressive defensive linemen with long Steelers careers, this appears to be where the team is headed. The writing was already on the walls in January's Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens when Pittsburgh's defense allowed 299 rushing yards.
Taking a defensive lineman in Round 1 also makes sense when you look at the talent that could be available. While Mason Graham—this year's best interior defender—will be off the board before pick 21, the Steelers are expected to have some options between impressive defensive tackles like Oregon's Derrick Harmon, Michigan's Kenneth Grant, or Ole Miss's Walter Nolen.
Harmon, in particular, makes too much sense to ignore. At 6'4 1/2'' and 313 pounds, with a massive wingspan and the flexibility to play anywhere on the defensive line, Harmon is cut from the same cloth as players like Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt coming out of college. He has a fantastic blend of size, length, and athletic traits for a defensive lineman.
There's still time for this to change. The Steelers could pull off a surprising trade for a defensive tackle or add a veteran or two to this group in free agency. But if the 2025 NFL Draft started today, it's painfully obvious that the Pittsburgh Steelers would target a defensive tackle in the first round.