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The Pittsburgh Steelers may have timed one of their most important roster investments better than it first appeared. While plenty of attention has gone toward quarterback questions and offensive changes, Pittsburgh’s recent push to add young defensive linemen could become a major advantage if the rest of the league starts running short on quality interior defenders.
The Steelers have used meaningful draft capital on the defensive line over the past few years. Keeanu Benton was a second-round pick. Derrick Harmon was a first-round pick. Yahya Black arrived later, but he gave Pittsburgh another big-bodied developmental piece to work with. That kind of investment can feel excessive in the moment, but the position is becoming harder to find.
During a recent episode of The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio, Matt Williamson discussed a defensive tackle ranking from Jon Ledyard and pointed out how thin the league has become with young players at the position.
“If you look at like the last three draft classes, it’s pretty devoid of defensive tackle,” Williamson said.
That is a notable comment because the Steelers have gone against that trend. They did not wait until the defensive line became a full-blown emergency. They started adding pieces before the situation reached that point. Wes Uhler made that connection while talking through Pittsburgh’s recent draft approach.
“Steelers did draft two in that stretch,” Uhler said. “I’m not forgetting on Black, but I’m talking mostly Benton and Harmon here as early picks. First round, second round.”
The Steelers still need those picks to become reliable long-term answers, but the logic behind the plan is easy to understand. Interior defensive linemen who can play real snaps are not easy to find. The great ones are rare. The solid ones are expensive. The developmental ones often need time before they can be trusted. Pittsburgh has tried to build its own pipeline instead of waiting for the free agent market to solve everything.
That approach is especially important with Cameron Heyward still playing at a high level, but clearly closer to the back end of his career than the beginning. Heyward remains one of the best defensive linemen in football, and his longevity has been remarkable. Still, the Steelers cannot build the next several years of their defensive front around the idea that he will keep beating age forever.
Benton, Harmon, and Black give Pittsburgh options. Benton can win upfield and create disruption. Harmon gives the Steelers a high-end young talent who can eventually grow into a centerpiece. Black brings size and run-game potential that can help the front if his technique keeps improving. None of that means the group is finished, but it gives the Steelers a better foundation than teams trying to patch together the position one short-term signing at a time.
The biggest benefit could come in roster flexibility. If the Steelers have multiple young defensive linemen who can play different roles, Patrick Graham can be more creative with fronts and packages. Benton does not have to be forced into every nose tackle look. Harmon does not have to do everything immediately. Black can develop into a rotational run defender while learning how to hold up inside.
Pittsburgh has already seen Black viewed as a potential weapon in the middle of the defensive line, and that becomes more interesting when placed next to the broader league trend Williamson mentioned. If teams are struggling to find young defensive tackles, having three recent investments already in the building gives the Steelers a real chance to separate themselves.
There is also a financial angle. Defensive linemen who can play are not cheap once they reach the open market. If the Steelers can develop their own group, they can avoid chasing overpriced veterans every offseason. They will still have to pay the right players eventually, but drafting and developing the position gives the organization more control.
Steelers Could Be Ahead Of A League-Wide Issue
The Steelers’ plan is not guaranteed to work. Drafting players is only the first step. Benton has to keep improving. Harmon has to stay healthy and become the player Pittsburgh believed it was getting in the first round. Black has to prove he can become more than depth. Development will decide whether this becomes a strength or just another idea that looked good on paper.
Still, Pittsburgh deserves some credit for understanding the importance of the position. The NFL is built around quarterbacks, but defensive linemen who can affect the pocket and stop the run still shape games. Teams without answers inside often get exposed, especially late in the season when weather, physicality, and trench play start to carry more weight.
The Steelers have spent years relying on Heyward to set the standard. Now they are trying to build the next version of that defensive front before the old one disappears completely. If the league truly is entering a shortage of young defensive tackle talent, Pittsburgh’s recent draft decisions could look even smarter with time.
The Steelers are not all the way there yet, but they may already have the kind of defensive line depth other teams will soon wish they had.
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