Steelers positional analysis: Time for organization to restock defensive line

This is the sixth in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, position by position, heading into the offseason.

Today: Defensive line

As the string of seasons without a playoff victory extended to eight for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the longest-tenured player on the roster struggled to make sense of the 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 11.

It wasn’t just that the Steelers lost their opening-round game for the fifth time during that drought. It was the way the Ravens ripped through the defense for 299 yards rushing that made it difficult for Cameron Heyward to digest.

Repeating a late trend, the Steelers fell behind from the start and allowed an opponent to score at least 27 points for the fourth time during a season-ending losing streak. Two of those defeats were to the Ravens, who rushed for a combined 519 yards.

“I’ll be looking at it all offseason,” Heyward said. “We got a lot of great guys in there. The technique is there. I just don’t think we got off enough blocks, made enough splash plays or bought ourselves enough real estate to get to a point where we could do what we wanted.”

Any examination for Heyward likely will determine that changes need to take place on the defensive line if the Steelers plan to keep opponents, particularly ones that have a mobile quarterback, from running the ball at will.

The Steelers, after all, will have to contend with the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson for the near future. Jackson accounted for 81 rushing yards against the Steelers in the wild-card matchup.

Coach Mike Tomlin said he will examine his team’s personnel, the way the defense played the run in its 3-4 scheme and how Jackson used the read-option to confound Steelers defenders.

“The mobility component, the designed quarterback run component is a component of discussion,” Tomlin said. “It’s making sure we’re in the right lanes in that regard schematically. There are a lot of complex discussions to be had and things to analyze in that regard.”

Tomlin might not like what he sees beyond his defensive captain.

At 35, Heyward was the lone exemplary piece on the defensive line, his play worthy enough of a first-team All-Pro selection for the fourth time in his career. Second-year defensive tackle Keeanu Benton was sturdy, but he didn’t take a seismic jump from his rookie season, which Tomlin expects from his draft picks.

Benton was selected with the No. 49 pick in 2023, marking the highest selection for a defensive lineman since Stephon Tuitt in 2014. The Steelers haven’t taken a defensive lineman with their first pick since Heyward came aboard in 2011.

Given the state of the rest of the line, it might be time for a makeover at the position.

Mid-to-late round picks Isaiahh Loudermilk and DeMarvin Leal never developed into more than spare pieces. Logan Lee, taken in the sixth round a year ago, spent the entire season on injured reserve.

The Steelers relied on three linemen who will be at least 30 years old when the 2025 season begins: Larry Ogunjobi, Montravius Adams and the little-used Dean Lowry. A case could be made for each veteran to be given his release, a move that would save $2.25 million (Adams), $2.5 million (Lowry) and $7 million (Ogunjobi).

The 2025 draft interior defensive line class is led by Michigan’s Mason Graham, who could be a top-10 pick. His Wolverines teammate, Kenneth Grant, and Mississippi’s Walter Nolen are big-bodied linemen who could be intriguing to the Steelers.

Under contract: Cameron Heyward ($19.65 million cap hit), Larry Ogunjobi ($10.533 million), Dean Lowry ($3.125 million), Montravius Adams ($3.125 million), Keeanu Benton ($1.999 million), DeMarvin Leal ($1.65 million), Logan Lee ($1.015 million), Domenique Davis ($840,000), Jacob Slade ($840,000)

Impending free agents: Isaiahh Loudermilk, Breiden Fehoko

Outside perspective: Pro Football Network, in ranking the Steelers’ defensive line No. 25 for the season: “In the wild card loss to the Ravens, a run defense that was roughly league average in the regular season got trampled. Pittsburgh recorded a season-worst 46% rushing success rate, also the worst by any defense in the wild card round.”