When it comes to determining the Steelers 53-man roster, something that must be done by 4 PM on Tuesday, August 27, it really is a numbers game. There are certain positions where a precise number is needed while others could fluctuate up or down a player based on personnel. It’s a tricky situation and one that many often try to predict, including Jeff Hartman and myself.

One of the position groups that has grown in recent seasons is the Steelers defensive line. The standard used to be six players who were kept up through the 2020 season. But after jumping up to eight in 2021, the Steelers have settled in at seven players on roster cut down day the last two seasons. Because of this, many assume the Steelers are just keeping seven defensive linemen because “that’s what they do now.“ But should the Steelers keep an extra defensive lineman in 2024?

To get some better data in order to answer this question, let’s take a look at the Steelers current depth chart. The first team defensive line is listed as Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Larry Ogunjobi. The current second unit on the defensive line is DeMarvin Leal, Montravius Adams, and Dean Lowry. As for the third unit unit, there are currently only two names in Isaiahh Loudermilk and Logan Lee.

Personally, my assumption if the Steelers were keeping one less defensive lineman than the last two seasons would be the six players listed as the top two units on the depth chart. So is it worthwhile for the Steelers to keep either Isaiahh Loudermilk or Logan Lee on the 53-man roster?

Ever since the Steelers traded into the fifth round of the 2021 draft for Loudermilk, giving up a fourth-round pick the next year, the Steelers have been giving him every opportunity. Even in the Steelers two preseason games with Cam Hayward not playing, Loudermilk has gotten the start. But has he really shown enough to where he brings value to the Steelers on game day?

For this reason, my first inclination this offseason was to keep Logan Lee, a 2024 sixth-round draft pick by the Steelers, as a player they could continue to develop. Lee could be on the roster and be inactive each week outside of there being an injury at the position. Not seeing Lee stand out significantly in the preseason or having a lot of reports out of training camp, is he a player that Steelers could put on the squad?

I completely understand the Steelers keeping either one of these players. But should the assumption be that the Steelers will continue to carry seven defensive linemen as their new standard? Will the Steelers buck the trend and go back to six defensive linemen on the roster? Would they be better served to keep a player at a different position? Right now, it is purely speculation as to what the Steelers will do. But in a weeks time, we will have the answer after the roster is cut down to 53 next Tuesday.