Steelers training camp preview: Defense
With training camp just a few days away, let's take a look at each of the Steelers' positional units.
Defensive line
The Steelers front office made a focused effort to upgrade the defensive line after last season's struggles. Out are Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams and in are rookie Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black. The anchor on this line is the ageless Cameron Heyward who will lead this group and hopefully can get a spark out of nose tackle Keenau Benton as well.
For depth, the Steelers have a lot of guys who will be battling for a handful of spots, but no one who inspires confidence. Logan Lee, Derek Lowry, DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk are the incumbents with three free agent additions, Daniel Ekuale, Esezi Otomeow and Dominique Davis will battle for a final spot on the roster.
Outside linebacker
Easily the strongest unit on the defense, it's time for this group to play up to the talent they have. T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jake Sawyer is as good a four-man rotation in the NFL and after Watt's massive new contract, it's time for this group to start getting after the quarterback.
The Steelers only mustered 40 sacks in 2024. This was the third-straight season Pittsburgh failed to top 50 sacks after hitting that mark for five straight years.
Inside linebacker
If outside linebacker is the best unit on the defense, inside linebacker might be second. The Steelers added Malik Harrison in free agency to bolster depth and the healthy return of Cole Holcomb gives the Steelers two starter-quality inside linebackers as reserves.
The reason Holcomb and Harrison won't start this season is that the team already has an excellent tandem of starters. Patrick Queen came over last year as a free agent from the Baltimore Ravens, and once he got comfortable with the defense, he really excelled.
But the player we can't wait to see in training camp and this season is second-year linebacker Payton Wilson. Wilson only played 45 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie last season but was still fourth on the team with 78 total tackles.
Cornerback
The Steelers rebuilt the cornerback depth chart in the offseason. Donte Jackson signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency and the team quickly signed veteran Darius Slay to replace. Slay was going to be the team's starter on the outside, along with Joey Porter Jr.
Then, late in June, the Steelers pulled off a blockbuster trade to land All-Pro Jalen Ramsey. Slay and Ramsey join Porter, as well as Cory Trice Jr. and James Pierre, as the primary outside cornerbacks. Trice and Pierre head into training camp on the roster bubble.
At slot cornerback, there's a three-man battle between Beanie Bishop, Brandin Echols and rookie Donte Kent with the likelihood one of those guys doesn't make the final 53-man roster.
Safety
The one unit on defense that took a huge hit this offseason was safety. The trade that landed the Steelers' cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith cost them All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Even though Fitzpatrick hadn't played up to his expected production the last two seasons, he was still far and away the best safety on the team and wouldn't be easy to replace.
One safety spot is locked down with the big-hitting DeShon Elliott. Elliott was a strong defender last season and will have to take on an even heavier workload this season. The battle in training camp will be to see who takes over Fitzpatrick's starting spot.
Pittsburgh added Juan Thornhill in free agency well ahead of the trade and his experience should give him the best chance to take over. But we won't rule out veteran Quindell Johnson and rookie Sebastian Castro to put Thornhill at training camp.
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