After the Eagles delivered a dominant Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs with one of the most impressive defensive performances in history, it serves as a preview of what's to come for the Steelers this offseason.
The Defensive Line: A key Focus this offseason
Andy Weidl, the Steelers' assistant GM, was brought back to Pittsburgh to help mold the roster in a way similar to how the Philadelphia Eagles were built. The Eagles' first step in their transformation was strengthening the trenches on both sides of the ball, and the Steelers began that process last year by heavily investing in the offensive line.
This year, it’s expected that the focus will shift to bolstering the defensive line. With Cameron Heyward nearing the end of his career and Keeanu Benton emerging as a key building block, the unit will need a few more pieces to ensure it remains strong and competitive for the foreseeable future.
This year's draft class is particularly strong on the defensive front, and the Steelers have ample cap space to potentially add a few free agents. It's likely they'll target a defensive lineman in the 1st or 2nd round, and they may even double-dip at the position during the draft.
The Eagles have built a reputation for consistently bolstering their defensive line, and the Steelers could follow suit. With their top players on defense aging, it's crucial for Pittsburgh to inject youth into key areas to maintain their defensive dominance moving forward.
It's widely recognized that winning in the trenches is one of the key factors in winning games, and that's exactly why the Eagles were able to take home the Super Bowl. With the best offensive line in the NFL and one of the top defensive lines, they had the upper hand. In the Super Bowl, it was Philadelphia's defensive line that completely controlled the Chiefs' offense, forcing Patrick Mahomes into one of the worst games of his career.
After the Steelers' near 300-yard rushing loss to the Ravens in their wildcard matchup, the defensive line will undoubtedly be the position group receiving the most focus moving forward.