Like we all assumed they would, the Pittsburgh Steelers sent the house to Senior Bowl Week in Mobile, Alabama. Mike Tomlin is once again on the scouting trail with general manager Omar Khan. The two lead men of the organization were joined on the practice field by Arthur Smith, Teryl Austin, and members of the Steelers' football operations staff.
It didn't take long to figure out where Pittsburgh' interest lied.
As soon as the National Team took the practice field for the first time on January 28, Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, and Teryl Austin were all over the defensive line group—watching some of the best in the country battle it out in OL vs. DL matchups and team drills.
On the second day of practice on January 29, it was the same story. Tomlin and Austin diligently studied the defensive line group. Here are some of the photos and videos captured of Coach Tomlin and the Steelers scouting the DL participants during the first two days of Senior Bowl practices:
Mike Tomlin sharing some words with Deone Walker (Kentucky DT) pic.twitter.com/ePQWq4Afb7
— Jacob Lintner (@lintnermedia) January 29, 2025
More Mike Tomlin watching defensive linemen. Again. pic.twitter.com/u5kzifdAjj
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) January 29, 2025
#Steelers HC Mike Tomlin and DC Teryl Austin again intently watching the defensive line drills. pic.twitter.com/d9rW8VGFwH
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) January 29, 2025
Nothing will stop Mike Tomlin (far left) from looking at the D-line this week. Hasn't missed a session for them.#SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/dLE6OoZeap
— Ross McCorkle (@Ross_McCorkle) January 29, 2025
Not a one off. Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin watching defensive linemen once again to start the second day of practice at the Senior Bowl. pic.twitter.com/5NR0m4TQKO
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) January 29, 2025
Potential first round pick Walter Nolen has heavy hands and impressive burst. Mike Tomlin has talked to him a few times. pic.twitter.com/Xgxra8A0Z5
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) January 28, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin and DC Teryl Austin watching defensive linemen again to start the second practice.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) January 28, 2025
Potential first round pick Walter Nolen one of the players to watch. pic.twitter.com/28kagQjFki
Kentucky DT Deone Taylor is a massive human. Also, Mike Tomlin looking on. pic.twitter.com/duZEAmxkMY
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) January 28, 2025
You don't spend this much time evaluating one positional group unless you are convinced you will be selecting one early in the NFL Draft. And you can bet that will be the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers this April.
Breadcrumbs lead Steelers to defensive lineman early in the NFL Draft
While we still have the entire Pro Day scouting trail ahead of us to see where Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan will show their interests, they can't hide their infatuation for the defensive line group at the 2025 Senior Bowl. The fact that Tomlin, Khan, and Austin have devoted so much time to watching the defensive linemen means the Steelers will likely target one early in the draft.
Among the top DL participants during Senior Bowl Week are players like Ole Miss' Walter Nolan, South Carolina's T.J. Sanders, Kentucky's Deone Walker, and Tennesse's Omarr Norman-Lott.
This defensive line group also includes a few potential mid-round gems like Virginia Tech's Aeneas Peebles, as well as highly-touted, over-sized edge defenders like Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton who could transition to interior defenders at the next level.
While it's still more likely the Steelers' first-round pick is not at the Senior Bowl this year, Pittsburgh clearly has an infatuation with this group. We are still extremely early in the process, but it would almost be surprising to see this front office make it past the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft without selecting an interior defender.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never made it a point to hide their pre-draft interests from other teams, and they aren't about to start now. You can bet they will target a defensive lineman early in April's draft.