2024 Steelers training camp positional breakdown: Defense

Here’s a look at the Steelers’ roster on the defensive side of the ball entering training camp. TribLive broke down the offense yesterday. Players report to Saint Vincent on Wednesday.

DEFENSE

Defensive linemen

97 CAMERON HEYWARD · 6-5 · 295

The biggest off-field drama of camp surrounds if Heyward will get a contract extension. At 35 and coming off an injury-shortened and -affected season, it wouldn’t seem he has leverage. But Heyward is a popular Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winner.

99 LARRY OGUNJOBI · 6-3 · 305

Ogunjobi has been reliable and steady over his two seasons since joining the Steelers. But his production has not matched the $13.3 million cap hit he has in 2024. At age 30 and with an injury history, will he hold up?

95 KEEANU BENTON · 6-4 · 309

Benton was good enough as a rookie second-round pick last season that predictions for ascension to stardom aren’t entirely unwarranted. If Benton continues to develop he has the look of the long-term future face of the Steelers’ front seven.

57 MONTRAVIUS ADAMS · 6-4 · 304

Adams was with his fourth team in calendar year 2021 when the Steelers plucked him off the Saints practice squad. He’s found a home since, even accepting a demotion with Benton’s emergence last year. He re-signed for two years in March.

94 DEAN LOWRY · 6-6 · 296

A 30-year-old, nine-year veteran, longtime Packer Lowry has the look of a solid addition as a rotational player and top backup for the D-line group. He had been remarkably durable until missing eight games last season — his only year with the Vikings.

98 DEMARVIN LEAL · 6-4 · 290

Leal might qualify of one of 2023’s biggest disappointments. After a solid rookie season in which he looked like a playmaker, by late in 2023 Leal was a frequent healthy scratch. It’s worth watching how he responds.

92 ISAIAHH LOUDERMILK· 6-7 · 293

Loudermilk has served on the periphery of the D-line rotation throughout his three seasons since being a fifth-round pick. But in the final year of his contract, Loudermilk must fight for a roster spot — let alone earn a contract in 2025.

74 LOGAN LEE · 6-5 · 286

The first of two sixth-round picks in April, the 24-year-old and married Lee brings to the NFL the maturity of 41 college starts in a pro-style defense at Iowa. He’s another D-lineman with a wrestling background.

96 BREIDEN FEHOKO · 6-3 · 300

Fehoko was brought back in 2024 despite not getting into a game for the Steelers in 2023. Perhaps the most pure nose tackle on the roster, Fehoko has 19 games of prior NFL experience for the Chargers.

91 JONATHAN MARSHALL · 6-3 · 310

Marshall has stuck continuously with the Steelers since late in the 2022 season but has not made it onto the active 53-man roster. A sixth-round pick of the Jets in 2021, Marshall has shown he can pitch in if needed.

72 WILLINGTON PREVILON · 6-5 · 287

Claimed off waivers from the Falcons last month, Previlon has yet to practice with the Steelers. The 2019 Rutgers team MVP, Previlon has been part of five teams’ offseason rosters or practice squads but never has played in a regular-season game.

79 JACOB SLADE · 6-4 · 305

Once drafted by the now-defunct USFL Pittsburgh Maulers, Slade was a four-year contributor at Michigan State. He spent time with the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie last year and signed with the Steelers in January.

Outside linebackers

90 T.J. WATT · 6-4 · 252

The only player to lead the NFL in sacks in a season three times, Watt is a four-time finalist for AP Defensive Player of the Year but was runner-up to Myles Garrett in 2023. Will that motivate him as he turns 30 early this fall?

56 ALEX HIGHSMITH · 6-4 · 242

Those annoyed that “analytics people” said Garrett was better than Watt last season also need to be intellectually consistent when discussing Highsmith, who was better via advanced metrics in 2023 than what his seven sacks might indicate.

51 NICK HERBIG · 6-2 · 240

Though the sample is limited at the pro level, Herbig clearly has a knack for rushing the passer. He effectively has been promoted to No. 3 OLB for his second season. Can his all-around game grow enough to be an every-down player?

53 KYRON JOHNSON · 6-0 · 235

Johnson appeared in seven games (including playoffs) for the Steelers last season but only made it onto the field for one defensive snap. If he proves reliable on special teams, though, Johnson has a path to the roster in 2024.

49 JEREMIAH MOON · 6-5 · 247

Moon played in eight and started one game for the Ravens last season before being let go during their run to the AFC championship game. The Steelers scooped Moon up and believe he can compete to be their No. 4 OLB.

33 DAVID PERALES · 6-3 · 255

Perales was a priority signing as an undrafted free agent in 2023 after having 11 1/2 sacks at Fresno State the year before. He began last season on the practice squad and was on and off it twice before the season ended.

45 JACOBY WINDMON · 6-2 · 250

After a five-year college career, Windmon signed with the Steelers soon after the draft ended in April. In 11 games over 2022-23 for Michigan State, he had 12 1/2 tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks and six forced fumbles. A pectoral muscle injury ended his final season.

44 JULIUS WELSCHOF · 6-6 · 265

A native of Germany who did not play American football until his late teens, Welschof played in college at Michigan and Charlotte. Now 27 years old, the Steelers have a roster exemption for him via the NFL’s International Pathway program.

Inside linebackers

6 PATRICK QUEEN · 6-0 · 232

The $41 million signee is one of the highest-profile external free agents the Steelers ever have signed. A second-team AP NFL All-Pro last season for the rival Ravens, Queen is being counted on to be a versatile, every-down playmaker.

50 ELANDON ROBERTS · 6-1 · 238

A wily nine-year veteran who has two Super Bowl rings, Roberts is a former captain with the Patriots and Dolphins. Looked at as a proverbial “run stuffer,” Roberts spread his wings when the Steelers’ other ILBs were injured last season.

55 COLE HOLCOMB · 6-1 · 240

Holcomb looked the part worthy of the three-year, $18 million contract he signed to join the Steelers last year until a serious knee injury ended his 2023 in November. It’s questionable when and if he will be cleared to play in 2024.

41 PAYTON WILSON · 6-4 · 242

The winner of the Butkus (nation’s best linebacker) and Bednarik (nation’s best defensive player) awards for NC State last season, Wilson ran the fastest non-WR or DB time in the 40-yard dash at the combine. An intriguing third-round pick.

93 MARK ROBINSON · 5-11 · 235

A converted college running back, Robinson was worth the flier as a 2022 seventh-round pick, and he’s developed into a core special-teams player. But it’s obvious the Steelers don’t view him as a viable, high-usage NFL linebacker.

*TYLER MATAKEVICH · 6-1 · 235

Signed last week after four seasons in Buffalo, Matakevich returns to the organization that made him a seventh-round pick in 2016 after he’d been a Bednarik Award winner for Temple in 2015.

40 TYLER MURRAY · 6-1 · 227

Known for leaving his shift at Amazon to join the Steelers’ practice squad last November, Murray lasted just six days with the Steelers but was brought back twice more over the next two months and will get the chance to make an impression at camp.

*Jersey number not yet assigned

Cornerbacks

24 JOEY PORTER JR. · 6-2 · 193

Porter was everything the Steelers could have expected as a rookie second-round pick in 2023 and has the look of the long-term answer as No. 1 cornerback. He quickly eased into a “shutdown” role late in his rookie season.

26 DONTE JACKSON · 5-10 · 180

After spending six seasons with the Panthers, Jackson was in danger of being cut until the Steelers swapped receiver Diontae Johnson for him in March. Jackson quietly took a pay cut but begins the 2024 season as the Steelers’ No. 2 CB.

20 CAMERON SUTTON · 5-11 · 188

After six seasons with the Steelers to begin his career, Sutton left for a lucrative contract with the Lions last year. A serious offseason arrest got him cut. The Steelers brought him back, though he’ll serve an eight-game suspension.

27 CORY TRICE JR. · 6-3 · 206

The first week of last year’s camp, Trice looked like he might be a seventh-round steal. A torn ACL ended his rookie season before it started, but Trice will have another shot to prove he’s worthy of a roster spot.

30 BEANIE BISHOP JR. · 5-9 · 182

After four years at Western Kentucky and one at Minnesota, Bishop broke out in 2023 with West Virginia. He was on draft boards but was not selected and joined the Steelers immediately on their list of candidates to be the starting nickel/slot.

18 ANTHONY AVERETT · 5-11 · 185

A two-time national champion at Alabama, Averett was a 2018 fourth-round pick of the Ravens and spent four seasons in Baltimore and another with the Raiders before injuries prevented him from playing last season. He signed with the Steelers off a tryout.

42 JOSIAH SCOTT · 5-9 · 185

Another candidate for the vacant slot/nickel job to start the season, Scott has 39 games of NFL experience — mostly with the Eagles. He was with the Steelers for two weeks last season but was waived/injured.

21 DARIUS RUSH· 6-2 · 198

Signed off the Chiefs practice squad in October, as a rookie Rush quickly was thrust into the defensive gameplan when the Steelers secondary was decimated by injury. He was a regular scratch by the end of the season.

35 GRAYLAND ARNOLD · 5-10 · 190

Yet another option for the nickel/slot, Arnold filled that role for the Texans last season — including for a win against the Steelers — but he ended up on injured reserve and was let go over the offseason until the Steelers signed him in June.

31 KALON BARNES · 6-0 · 186

Barnes owns one of the fastest times ever recorded in the 40 at the NFL combine (4.23 seconds). But he hasn’t been able to nail down regular NFL work aside from two games of sparse special-teams usage as a rookie for the Vikings in 2022.

37 THOMAS GRAHAM · 5-10 · 196

Graham has made cameo appearances during regular-season NFL games at slot/nickel and outside corner — but none since 2022. A 2021 sixth-round pick, Graham joined the Steelers via a reserve/future deal in January.

Safeties

39 MINKAH FITZPATRICK · 6-1 · 207

Fitzpatrick missed seven 2023 games because of hamstring and knee injuries. That prevented a fourth All-Pro designation. After averaging six takeaways per season over his first five seasons with the Steelers, he had none in 2023.

23 DAMONTAE KAZEE · 5-11 · 174

Each of Kazee’s first two seasons with the Steelers was marred by suspensions. Now 31, he enters his eighth NFL season in a timeshare at safety with newly acquired DeShon Elliott. It’s yet to be seen how that division of labor shakes out.

25 DESHON ELLIOTT · 6-0 · 210

A six-year veteran, Elliott joined his fourth team via a two-year, $6 million free-agent contract. The Steelers value Elliott’s versatility — he’s played extensively at free safety, in the box and even in the slot/nickel spot.

29 RYAN WATTS · 6-3 · 212

A cornerback in college at Ohio State and Texas, Watts was projected as a safety in the NFL and that’s where he spent organized team activates and minicamp. A sixth-round pick, if nothing else Watts could be ideal for special teams.

38 NATHAN MEADORS · 5-9 · 194

A three-year starter at cornerback for UCLA, Meadors was not drafted but played two games as a rookie in 2019 for the Vikings. But he hasn’t been in an NFL regular-season game since. He played in 2023 in the XFL.