6 early NFL Combine studs Steelers should be enthralled with

1. Lukas Van Ness could be the perfect Steelers chess piece

We were warned that Lukas Van Ness was going to be a freakish athlete when he tested, and he did not disappoint. Though his explosion numbers were just average, his speed and agility were unbelievable for a player of his size.

Van Ness played both edge defender and defensive tackle for the Iowa Hawkeyes each of the past two years and he excelled at both. At 6'5'' and 272 pounds with broad shoulders and 34'' arms, Van Ness is a tweener in the best kind of way as a guy you can slide all around your defensive line.

Van Ness had one of the most impressive numbers of the evening as he earned a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. For a player who plays as stout and strong as he does, this was the best anyone could have hoped for.

His outstanding Combine performance rivaled that of last year's number-one overall pick, Travon Walker. The Steelers love great defensive prospects and the 21-year-old Lukas Van Ness checks every single box they look for.