The defensive position is arguably the Pittsburgh Steelers’ largest want within the 2025 draft. Right now, I needed to be taught and supply information on the category, seeing who makes essentially the most sense for the crew from a stat perspective.
This text will look at a few essential run protection and move rush metrics. After all, Pittsburgh wants strengths in each, given how 2024 transpired behind star DL Cam Heyward.
One other essential factor is scheme match. I included gamers that PFF labels as EDGE gamers however have the 5-tech physique kind within the Steelers 3-4 system and had snaps on the inside d-line.
Let’s begin with run protection. The numbers I selected to take a look at are cease fee (a failure for the offense – based mostly on profitable performs) and missed sort out fee, which have been points for a number of on the Steelers’ protection, together with the place.
Very telling visible. Cam Horsley of Boston Faculty led the group in run-stop fee at 14.4-percent. This impressively led all d-linemen within the FBS (min. 200 run protection snaps), with a robust 4.9 missed sort out fee that ranked Thirteenth out of the 46 qualifying draft prospects. Seemingly a Day-Three chance that our Joe Clark spoke effectively of on the Shrine Bowl.
Two gamers atop many draft place boards land effectively above common. Michigan’s Mason Graham may go high 5/ten, and Walter Nolen of Ole Miss would look nice within the Black and Gold, a extra practical projection round their present twenty first choice within the first spherical. They every rank second and third in every stat, respectively.
South Carolina’s DeAndre Jules rounds out the highest 5 cease charges at 11.3, the ultimate plus-ten quantity, and a good 5.9 miss fee (fifteenth). It’s early, however not seeing a lot buzz on the mix invite.
Junior Tafuna of Utah was the one qualifier with no missed run tackles (210 run snaps), impressively, and an above-average 8.1 cease fee (T-Thirteenth). Our Josh Carney spoke extremely of him throughout the Senior Bowl protection. Seemingly may very well be acquired late.
Listed here are different names above the imply in each stats (school/projection):
Cam Jackson (Florida/late), Yahya Black (Iowa/late), Kenneth Grant (Michigan/first), Ty Hamilton (Ohio State/late), Alfred Collins (Texas/day two), T.J. Sanders (South Carolina/day two), Tyleik Williams (Ohio State/first-second), Elijah Simmons (Tennessee/late), Jordan Phillips (Maryland/day two-three), and Darius Alexander (Toledo/day two).
Jackson looks like a late-round candidate. Black has a powerful body and energy. Grant is an enormous plugger who has the potential for extra. Collins and Sanders are athletic and alignment versatile. Williams is spectacular in opposition to the run. Simmons is a mix invite and NT-type, Phillips is massive/athletic with energy, and Alexander is a pleasant 5-tech Steeler match.
There are many plus run-defenders at numerous spots on this deep draft class.
Now let’s have a look at move rush, utilizing move rush win fee and move rush productiveness (elements sacks, hits, hurries, and move rush snaps). NOTE: Some names received’t seem with tighter plot factors.
Totally different characters towards the highest of the move rush stats. SMU’s Elijah Roberts led the group with a implausible 22.6 move rush win fee and second in PRP. He’s versatile, enjoying most at EDGE final season, however measured at 6032 – 290, probably making him IDL if Pittsburgh was . Day Two/Three probably, and Carney named him a winner in two Shrine Bowl practices.
Tennessee’s Omarr Norman-Lott clearly had the very best PRP, the one double-digit mark (12.6). Day Two opinions, with quicks off the snap, per Carney. His PRP does deserve an asterisk with simply 143 move rush snaps, in comparison with 369 from Roberts, making the latter’s outcomes extra spectacular.
Two Oregon gamers had comparable PRP, coming in at third and fourth finest (9.1, 8.9). Derrick Harmon stacked that with the stronger 17.6 move rush win fee besides (fourth). Appears he’ll value a primary/second rounder, however underwhelmed within the run protection numbers. Fellow Duck Jordan Burch had a 15.7 PRWR that was additionally stable (sixth). He can be extra 4-3 EDGE/3-4 DE per our Tom Mead’s report, whereas Harmon has extra measurement for IDL.
Third in PRWR is Virginia Tech’s Aeneas Peebles at 17.7-percent, paired with an above the imply 7.2 PRP (T-ninth). Early day three consensus, flashing on the Senior Bowl, however our Jonathan Heitritter famous an obvious lack of arm size. Jared Ivey of Ole Miss completes the highest 5 win charges (16.8), together with a 7.6 PRP (sixth). 3-4 DE potential in Pittsburgh, with some considerations, however made our Ross McCorkle’s watch and winners lists from the occasion.
Different names above common in each stats (school/projection), daring = run protection too:
Rylie Mills (Notre Dame/third-fourth spherical), Sai’vion Jones (LSU/day three), T.J. Sanders (South Carolina/day two), Jared Harrison-Hunte (SMU/late), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M/first-second), Graham (Michigan), Alexander (Toledo), Ty Robinson (Nebraska/day three), Tonka Hemingway (South Carolina/late), Nolen (Ole Miss), Vernon Broughton (Texas/day three), CJ West (Indiana/day three), Deone Walker (Kentucky/day two).
Mills would match, however a priority is a knee damage. Jones was extra disruptive than productive, per Heitritter. Sanders is a protected, high quality, and versatile DL. Harrison-Hunte impressed Melanie Friedlander on the Shrine Bowl. Stewart is a greater 4-3 EDGE match, per Mead.
Robinson resembles former Steeler Aaron Smith, per our Jim Hester. Hemingway is a Shrine DL that Carney and Clark loved. Broughton lacks pass-rush upside. West impressed our crew on the Shrine Bowl. Walker earned a Javon Hargrave comp from our Nate Kosko.
CONCLUSION:
This deep class of d-linemen affords a ton to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who should handle the place. A couple of names stand out above the remaining when it comes to balanced stat manufacturing this season. Michigan’s Mason Graham and Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), specifically, and Toledo’s Darius Alexander, the one different above-the-mean participant throughout the board.
Barring an excessive trade-up, Graham is unlikely to be on the Steelers’ board. Nolen is the identify I’m hoping is there if Pittsburgh pulls the set off in spherical one. If not, Alexander is projected to go on Day Two and suits Pittsburgh like a glove. Stage of competitors at Toledo is an asterisk, however impressed on the Senior Bowl, fortunately.
SMU’s Elijah Roberts, Jared Ivey (Ole Miss), and South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders spherical out the highest 5 within the cumulative stats. All of them had plus move rush ranks however had common to barely under elements to their run protection. It’s not the very best information for what Pittsburgh wants, which, after all, will get rather more troublesome within the NFL.
With that in thoughts, but to be talked about have been some huge males who fared sturdy in opposition to the run. Michigan’s Cam Jackson and Yahya Black are the 2 names that caught out most statistically. As we sit right here right this moment, they appear to be late-round prospects if the Steelers need to double-dip.
I may go on about all of the expertise on this yr’s draft class, however that is the group I hope the Steelers are taking a particularly exhausting have a look at. Right here’s to hoping Pittsburgh cashes in with a stable draft to strengthen the defensive position place.
