Ranking the Room: Who is the top defensive lineman for the Steelers in 2024?

With July officially here, I will be taking the time to rank the Steelers roster by positional group before training camp gets underway. The ultimate goal will be to create a ranked list of every play on the roster before camp gets started.

The rankings will be a mix of criteria. Mainly, I am looking at what players will put the Steelers in the best position to win this year. While long-term potential is considered, I care less about what a player can provide in 2025 as opposed to what they can do for the team this year. For rookies, their level of pro-readiness will be taken into account as well as their projection on the roster. We are continuing with the defensive line today, a group that has a lot of questions both this year and for the future.

Steelers twelve defensive linemen ranked

12. Jacob Slade

The Steelers have a quartet of backend roster players who are fighting for practice squad spots. The worst of those options is Jacob Slade. He lacks ideal measurables and doesn’t appear to be a great athlete on tape. He seems more geared to be an interior defender than an end, which limits his potential effectiveness for this team.

11. Willington Previlon

Willington Previlon is in a similar boat as Slade, as he lacks an athletic profile and isn’t overly productive in school. Where he gets the edge is due to his size. He has the height and length this team covets in defensive ends. He needs a lot of work, but he could be a stash candidate on the practice squad because of his size.

10. Breiden Fehoko

Breiden Fehoko is what he is. He is a classic run-stuffing nose tackle. He can come in and take up space and allow other players to make plays around him. Considering the depth at nose tackle, he seems like a practice squad option. He does what he does well, but that is limiting him in the modern NFL.

9. Jonathan Marshall

I like Jonathan Marshall over Fehoko as he has the versatility to play multiple spots along the line. He can also contribute as a pass rusher, something that Fehoko has very little ability to do. Given the competition on the backend and his age, he seems like a career fringe player, but I like his potential as a depth piece if he can finally get things to click.

8. Montravius Adams

I was higher on Montravius Adams initially, as his first run with the team was impressive. Since inking new deals though, the returns have been less than stellar. He offers more versatility and pass rush than Fehoko does as a nose tackle, but he never seems to play to the max of his abilities. That said, he has a clear path to a roster spot as he is the best backup option for a nose tackle on the team right now.

7. Logan Lee

Of the entire Steelers draft class, Logan Lee is the pick that I am least excited about. He is a clone of Isaiahh Loudermilk, tall and lanky but lacks a pass-rush plan. He will need to show that he can offer significantly more if he wants to claim a spot on the roster. If not, he could be a practice squad option. Even if he does make the team, don’t expect much of an impact right away.

6. Isaiahh Loudermilk

While Lee has the higher upside as a rookie, Loudermilk is the known commodity. He is a middling backup defensive end that the Steelers were attracted to because of his size profile. He hasn’t grown much since entering the league, and he seems like he is close to his ceiling. It seems like a two-way battle between him and Lee for potentially one spot.

5. DeMarvin Leal

Akin to the Marshall ranking above, I’ll give the slight edge to DeMarvin Leal in the backup defensive linemen race. He offers a different playstyle than most of the backups on the team, and he has the pedigree as a former third-round pick. He needs to get his career back on track, but I think he could be a sleeper in camp if he has gotten his work ethic in check.

4. Dean Lowry

A signing I am higher on than most, Dean Lowry should give this team a capable rotational defensive end to help rest the starters, especially on run-downs. He is, essentially, the ceiling that players like Loudermilk and Lee should aspire for. Don’t expect anything gaudy, but a consistent role on defense mixed to allow the starters a break is a fine role for Lowry at this point.

3. Larry Ogunjobi

By default, Larry Ogunjobi finds himself in the top three for defensive linemen. It is far less due to his overall play and more because of the lack of other options. Ogunjobi has been as mediocre as they come, but this team is desperate for defensive line help. Ideally, he will find his footing in year three with the team, but I am doubtful. That said, he is better than the backups.

2. Keeanu Benton

There is a real chance that we are talking about Keeanu Benton as the Steelers best defensive linemen by this time next season. While the stats weren’t there as a rookie, his play was great. With an expanded role and a full offseason with the team, he is expected to make a jump this year. Pittsburgh has to use him creatively and as more than just a nose tackle, but the sky is the limit heading into year two.

1. Cameron Heyward

While some fans claim that Cameron Heyward is over the hill, the reality is that he is the best defensive lineman this team has at the moment. It was apparent last year when the entire group suffered while he was injured, and even at partial health, he was still a potent run defender. His groin injury slowed him last year, but when healthy it is business as usual for Heyward.

While age will eventually catch up to him, and as stated I think Benton could easily take over this spot a year from now, Heyward is still the top dog in this room. The question is now if he will get a new deal, and what the details of that contract could look like. For 2024 though, expect Heyward to remain as the Steelers best defensive lineman.