The Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 NFL season has come to a close. Because the Steelers are among the 31 teams who did not finish fulfilling their ultimate goal, they are in the process of wrapping up their season and moving forward into 2024.

Since the Steelers conduct exit interviews with all their players, and the fact I have done these articles in the past, we thought we would do the same here at Steel Curtain Network. By outlining two players each day, we will be able to look at their season in retrospect as well as looking toward the future. Since Coach Tomlin has previously stated he starts his interviews with rookies and those heading into free agency, we will attempt to do the same to some degree. To start, we will pair the most recent draftees with another player at the same position (if possible) as we work through this process to eventually cover the entire Steelers roster.

Next up are defensive linemen Isaiahh Loudermilk and Larry Ogunjobi.

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Position: Defensive Tackle
Years with the Steelers: 3
Years in the NFL: 3
Contract Status: Signed through 2024
Contract Details: $1,135,072 salary cap hit for 2024. Would cost the Steelers $80,072 in dead money if released and save $1,055,000.
Games played in 2023: 16 regular season
Games started in 2023: 0 regular season
Snaps (regular season): 181 (defense), 82 (special teams)
PFF score: 55.2 (DNQ for ranking)
Notable stats: During the regular season, Loudermilk had 16 tackles, one quarterback hit, and 2 passes defensed.

Notes: After three seasons in Pittsburgh, Isaiahh Loudermilk hasn’t exactly lived up to the fourth-round pick the Steeler surrendered in order to trade into the fifth round to select him in 2021. Loudermilk did see more games played this season as he was a healthy scratch only once compared to 2022 when he missed the first five games. But other than playing 31 snaps in Week 1 when Cam Hayward went down, Loudermilk didn’t see more than 20 snaps in any one game and didn’t have more than four defensive snaps over the Steelers last three games. He still has another year left on his rookie deal which makes him inexpensive depth, but Loudermilk would have to take a huge step for the Steelers to want to continue to employ his services beyond 2024.

Larry Ogunjobi

Position: Defensive Tackle
Years with the Steelers: 2
Years in the NFL: 7
Contract Status: Signed through 2026
Contract Details: $13,283,333 salary cap hit for 2024. Would cost the Steelers $7,066,667 in dead money if released and save $6,216,666.
Games played in 2023: 17 regular season
Games started in 2023: 17 regular season
Snaps (regular season): 767 (defense), 57 (special teams)
PFF score: 58.7 (74th of 130)
Notable stats: During the regular season, Ogunjobi had 43 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 2 passes defensed, one forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries.

Notes: Larry Ogunjobi stayed healthy throughout the 2023 season and started every game for the Steelers. But playing in the first year of a three-year deal for more than $9 million per season, the bigger concern with Ogunjobi is not living up to the contract. While there were times Ogunjobi would burst in and make a phenomenal play, these snaps were not frequent enough when it came to his production. Exactly what the Steelers will do with his contract for 2024 is a mystery, but if Ogunjobi is still in Black & Gold next season, he needs to step up in order to live up to his contract.

Make sure you check back each day for another set of exit interviews. If you have missed any of the previous articles, they are listed here:

Broderick Jones & Chuks Okorafor
Joey Porter Jr. & Levi Wallace
Keeanu Benton & Montravius Adams
Darnell Washington & Rodney Williams
Nick Herbig & Markus Golden
Cory Trice Jr. & James Pierre
Spencer Anderson & Dylan Cook
Kenny Pickett & Mason Rudolph
George Pickens & Miles Boykin
DeMarvin Leal & Armon Watts
Calvin Austin III & Allen Robinson
Connor Heyward & Godwin Igwebuike
Mark Robinson & Blake Martinez
Najee Harris & Jaylen Warren
Pat Freiermuth & Diontae Johnson
Dan Moore Jr. & Mason Cole