The 2026 NFL Draft is now behind us. The Steelers added 10 players in the draft, then signed six more undrafted free agents to add to the mix, as well. While there was a clear emphasis to add to skill positions in free agency and the draft, the trenches are as deep as ever.
Looking at the 88 players on the roster, counting the drafted players that haven't officially signed yet, Omar Khan has fortified the depth of the roster, especially so on both the offensive and defensive lines. Even taking Broderick Jones out of the equation, since the Steelers don't know about his availability for training camp or the season yet, you can count nine players that are in strong position for roster spots (Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu, Spencer Anderson, Max Iheanachor, Dylan Cook, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker and Ryan McCollum). The Steelers won't carry more than nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, so they are in a great position -- barring any injuries -- to have a set offensive line room even if Jones has to start the season on injured reserve.
On the defensive line, the Steelers are five deep in players that will be in a strong rotation up front, including Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Yahya Black. Then, factor in Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee and sixth-round pick Gabriel Rubio, and we're right at the number of defensive linemen the Steelers normally carry in a season.
It's especially noteworthy on the defensive side that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has been open about how often the Steelers will be in subpackages such as nickel and dime. That means, there will only be two defensive linemen on the field the vast majority of the time. Having this kind of depth not only prepares best for attrition, but can also help preserve Heyward's snap count, giving him a better chance to stay fresh more often.
From the time they took over in 2022, Khan and Andy Weidl have emphasized the importance of the trenches. That's why, even in a draft where adding skill was a priority, we still saw three linemen added to the mix, two of them taken in the first three rounds. However, this might be the deepest we've seen both lines during their tenure.
THE ASYLUM
Free agency, draft has beefed up the trenches
The 2026 NFL Draft is now behind us. The Steelers added 10 players in the draft, then signed six more undrafted free agents to add to the mix, as well. While there was a clear emphasis to add to skill positions in free agency and the draft, the trenches are as deep as ever.
Looking at the 88 players on the roster, counting the drafted players that haven't officially signed yet, Omar Khan has fortified the depth of the roster, especially so on both the offensive and defensive lines. Even taking Broderick Jones out of the equation, since the Steelers don't know about his availability for training camp or the season yet, you can count nine players that are in strong position for roster spots (Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu, Spencer Anderson, Max Iheanachor, Dylan Cook, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker and Ryan McCollum). The Steelers won't carry more than nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, so they are in a great position -- barring any injuries -- to have a set offensive line room even if Jones has to start the season on injured reserve.
On the defensive line, the Steelers are five deep in players that will be in a strong rotation up front, including Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Yahya Black. Then, factor in Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee and sixth-round pick Gabriel Rubio, and we're right at the number of defensive linemen the Steelers normally carry in a season.
It's especially noteworthy on the defensive side that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has been open about how often the Steelers will be in subpackages such as nickel and dime. That means, there will only be two defensive linemen on the field the vast majority of the time. Having this kind of depth not only prepares best for attrition, but can also help preserve Heyward's snap count, giving him a better chance to stay fresh more often.
From the time they took over in 2022, Khan and Andy Weidl have emphasized the importance of the trenches. That's why, even in a draft where adding skill was a priority, we still saw three linemen added to the mix, two of them taken in the first three rounds. However, this might be the deepest we've seen both lines during their tenure.
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