Steelers meet with a handful of high-profile prospects at NFL Combine
By Tommy Jaggi
As Samuel L. Jackson once said in the 1993 classic film, Jurassic Park, 'hold onto your butts.' For fans who follow professional football closely, it's about to get really exciting, and there's going to be an overload of information over the next week. Though NFL Combine drills haven't even started yet, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had a very eventful couple of days to open the week.
Defensive linemen and linebackers were the first to arrive in Indianapolis for the 2023 NFL Combine, and Pittsburgh's front office wasted no time getting themselves acquainted with some of the top talents on hand.
Much of the Steelers media personnel are reporting from Lucas Oil Stadium this week for the first major event of the NFL offseason, and GM Omar Khan and his crew are busy meeting with players. Here are some of the top prospects the Pittsburgh Steelers have met with so far:
Here are some key players the Steelers had formal meetings with:
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) March 1, 2023
LB Drew Sanders
LB Noah Sewell
DL Bryan Bresee
DL Lukas Van Ness
IDL Gervon Dexter
It’s a big week for Clemson’s Bryan Bresee, coming off two seasons with multiple health issues. I asked him about his health, and he said, “I feel great. I feel really, really good.”
— Chris Halicke (@ChrisHalicke) March 1, 2023
Not a big surprise, obviously, but Bresee also confirmed he has met with the #Steelers. pic.twitter.com/c1029jLxLZ
Talked to Iowa DE Lukas Van Ness, who is a potential option for #Steelers at No. 17. He has met with the Steelers.
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) March 1, 2023
Said he modeled his game after J.J. Watt and I think that fits.
Van Ness was a HS hockey player and said he still plays with a hockey mentality. pic.twitter.com/NaAjFq8EBM
Steelers have formally met with at least 3 ILBs — Ivan Pace, Drew Sanders, and Henry To’oTo’o.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) March 1, 2023
Showing plenty of interest in the ILBs, as expected.
Other notable names that the Steelers have reportedly met with include Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace, Michigan DE Mike Morris, and Auburn EDGE Derick Hall. While we shouldn't read too deeply into these meetings, there are some interesting things to note.
Notes from Steelers early NFL Combine meetings
The first thing that should be reiterated here is that the defensive linemen and linebackers showed up first at the Combine, so these are the only players teams have met with so far. That being said, there are some interesting observations.
The Steelers have reportedly met with high-profile defensive linemen who fit a certain mold. Players like Clemson's Bryan Breese, Florida's Gervon Dexter, and Michigan's Mike Morris are all tall and long interior defenders who stand at least 6'5'' with long wingspans. Pittsburgh has not been able to fill the shoes of Stephon Tuitt since his sudden retirement, and they might be looking for a player in the Heyward/Tuitt mold that they could potentially draft early.
Interestingly, players like Mike Morris and Iowa's Lukas Van Ness are both long, oversized edge defenders that the Steelers could possibly consider transitioning to 5-techniques in their defensive scheme. It's worth noting that both Cam Heyward and Tuitt played base defensive end in college.
In addition, the Steelers have met with some very physical linebackers projected to go on day two of the NFL Draft. This was obviously one of the biggest weaknesses on the team from the 2022 season.
One realistic free agent target at every position for the Steelers. dark. Next
It will be interesting to see which of these players they continue to monitor, scout, and meet with leading up to the draft. While it's hard to tell a lot from Combine meetings, it certainly appears that the Pittsburgh Steelers will have some interest in a few of the top defenders from the 2023 NFL Draft class.