When Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II spoke to the media at the end of the season, he talked about the need to get stronger along the defensive line to help shore up the run defense. Elite defensive tackles are paid a premium in free agency so the Steleers might want to look to the 2025 NFL draft for help. Here is a defensive tackle prospect for the Steelers to consider in each round of the draft.
First Round
Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant is a huge run-stuffer who separated himself from Mason Graham as a top prospect in his own right.
Second Round
Massive Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins had a breakout campaign in 2024 and really improved his functional strength and leverage.
Third Round
Kentucky’s Deone Walker isn’t a short, squatty nose tackle but he plays with a low pad level for a 6-foot-6 defensive tackle and really eats up blockers.
Fourth Round
Ole Miss nose tackle JJ Pegues is a prototypical 0-technique who doesn’t offer much as a pass rush but eats up blockers in the run game.
Fifth Round
Like Pegues, Oregon’s Jamaree Campbell is a two-down nose tackle who plays with tremendous power at the point of attack.
Sixth Round
Indiana’s CJ West is another two-down nose tackle to line up next to Keeanu Benton in run sets and free up the linebackers to make plays.
Seventh Round
Louisville’s Thor Griffith has some interesting traits and could develop into a rotational defensive tackle.
