Fittipaldo: Steelers' Biggest Need In The 2024 Offseason Is Shoring Up The Defensive Line

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive line is an area of concern entering the 2024 offseason. Cam Heyward has been a leader for the group, but injuries limited him to 11 games this past season, and it was obvious that they had a lingering effect once he returned to action. Larry Ogunjobi was able to play all 17 games in his second season on the team and managed to have a slightly bigger impact. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo thinks that the organization needs to take a serious look at finding upgrades at the position overall. 

Fittipaldo joined Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller on The PM Team w/ Poni & Mueller on Thursday evening for his weekly guest spot. They asked him what he thinks the biggest need of the 2024 offseason is, and he, without hesitation, said it's the defensive line. 

"It's not an easy problem to solve," he said. "You've got the situations with Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi. I think both of those guys are coming off subpar seasons. With Cam, there's a big reason why. We all know it. He was injured and when he came back, he was less than 100%. You have two aging players there who have dealt with significant injuries over the last couple of seasons. So, you have to get younger there." 

As Fittipaldo said, Heyward dealt with significant injuries dating back to training camp that limited his effectiveness in the 2023 season. He only had two sacks and six tackles for a loss in the 11 games he managed to play. His sack total was the worst its been since 2016. That's when he suffered a pectoral tear against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 that landed him on injured reserve for the rest of the campaign. He had managed three sacks in the seven previous games. 

The team's longtime defensive captain had been aging like a fine wine. He picked up six consecutive Pro Bowl nominations after turning 28, but Father Time waits for no one. Heyward will be 35 in May, and it's fair to wonder how effective he can be after a season that was marred by injuries. He also carries a $22.4 million price tag for the 2024 season, barring him taking a pay cut (which Heyward doesn't seem too pleased to do). 

Ogunjobi managed to post three sacks in his second season in Pittsburgh after just one in the 2022 season. He played a full 17-game slate after missing one the year prior. He dealt with injuries for all of 2022. The Steelers gave him a three-year extension before the start of the 2023 season, but he has yet to prove his price tag, despite being a useful piece for the defense. 

The Steelers are glad to have found Keeanu Benton in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft to give the defensive line group a promising up-and-coming piece. Head Coach Mike Tomlin had lots of praise for the Wisconsin product, who had himself a pleasant season while doing some fill-in work for the injured Heyward at times.  

DeMarvin Leal was a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In two seasons, he hasn't found much of a role on the team. He played in 12 games in 2023, starting in four. He registered his first career sack against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, but still hasn't made a ton of impact. After Week 9, he made no starts, and in the five games he was active for did not play in more than nine snaps. Fittipaldo thinks the team will try to find a place for him in 2024, but that will probably be his last chance. 

Steelers Have Options For Improving The Defensive Line

The Steelers will have options in free agency and the draft to find upgrades for their defensive line. The team likely won't be in the market for any of the big names on the free agent market (like Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs because of the price tag), but Fittipaldo thinks there could be some attractive options. He mentioned DJ Reader and Christian Wilkins as possibilities. 

Fittipaldo said he wonders if Heyward and Ogunjobi have their roles reduced and the team tries to have their defensive line work with more substations. It's something that the Philadelphia Eagles have employed in recent years, and Steelers Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl isn't that far removed from being a big part of that team. 

How pressing do you think the need is on the defensive line? Would you look to upgrade in free agency or the draft?