With the NFL Draft less than a month away, our look continues at potential mid- and late-round prospects the Steelers could target. In the past, we’ve looked at the offensive tackles, the interior offensive line and the wide receivers. Today we turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball.It’s never a bad idea to constantly upgrade your defensive line. Graves is arguably the most effective position group on the field, and teams should always be looking for upgrades and new legs to add.
Defensive line is also a glaring need for the Steelers that I don’t think is talked about enough.Cam Heyward is signed through 2025 but turns 35 in May. He battled injuries in 2023 and will likely weigh on how long his body can play. Larry Ogunjobi is under contract until 2025, but his deal has potential beyond this season. Keeanu Benton showed promise and signed a rookie contract.If you’ve been following this series, you already know that athletes are important to me and the Steelers wanted one.
Smith’s college career got off to an equally promising start, as the All-SEC Freshmen team had four sacks and five tackles for loss in 7 games.Behind those three is a rotation of role players on short-term contracts. If I were in the Steelers war room, I wouldn’t want to leave Detroit without picking at least one person to develop for the future.Who could those names be? Let’s dive into some of the best middle linebacker prospects the Steelers could consider in 2024..