Steelers mock draft round 6: Keith Randolph Jr., DL, Illinois
The Steelers were very fortunate to find a potential gem in Keeanu Benton last season. Without him, there's not much to look forward to on Pittsburgh's interior defensive line outside of a soon-to-be 35-year-old Cameron Heyward.
Pittsburgh had high hopes for players like Larry Ogunjobi and former third-round pick DeMarvin Leal. Unfortunately, Ogunjobi hasn't been worth nearly as much as they paid for him in free agency two years ago, while Leal was a healthy scratch late in the 2023 season and can't find a way to contribute.
On top of this, Armon Watts -- who was a quality rotational defensive lineman for the Steelers this past season -- is set to hit the free agent market. So is former starting nose tackle, Montravius Adams.
Realistically, the Steelers need to make several moves to address the interior defensive line this offseason. On Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, one name that makes sense is Illinois' Keith Randolph. At 6'5'' and 300 pounds, Randolph is long and versatile with a blend of traits that could help him develop into a quality rotational player who can man multiple positions on the DL. The undersized players haven't been working out well for the Steelers and they get back to their roots with this selection.