Eighth in a daily series leading into the 2020 NFL Draft, April 23-25:
The Steelers got stellar production out of their outside linebacker duo of T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree in 2019, as the two combined for 26 sacks, 30 tackles for a loss, 12 forced fumbles and two interceptions.
It was easily the team's best production at the position in quite some time. How long?
"Man was it fun watching those edge rushers come off the edge," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said earlier this week while on Sirius XM. "It reminded me of (James) Harrison and (LaMarr) Woodley."
Yeah, in about a decade.
The Steelers were so intent on keeping that duo together, they placed the franchise tag on Dupree, meaning they'll pay him nearly $15.9 million in 2020 unless they can work out a long-term contract extension by the NFL deadline of July 15.
If the Steelers can get that worked out, they figure to be set at the position for quite some time. After all, Watt is one of the bright, young superstars in the league at 25 years old and Dupree seems to just be hitting his stride.
The depth behind those two, however, is lacking. Anthony Chickillo, who had been the backup the past few seasons, was released in a salary cap-related move, leaving former undrafted players Ola Adeniyi and Tuzar Skipper as the top backups.
It's a far cry from the days when the Steelers had Harrison waiting in the wings behind Joey Porter and Clark Haggans, or Jason Worilds behind the Harrison-Woodley duo.
Neither Adeniyi or Skipper has yet logged 100 NFL defensive snaps in their careers or anywhere close to the 143 snaps Chickillo played in 2019.
That and the uncertain status of Dupree beyond the 2020 season could lead the Steelers to attempt to at the very least add to the mix, though they could still bring Chickillo back at a lower cost if that doesn't happen.
The Steelers don't have a first-round pick, having traded that to the Dolphins as part of the package to acquire All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. And that's just as well, since outside of Ohio State's Chase Young, there might not be a pure outside linebacker worth taking in the first round of this year's draft.
Young just might be the best player in this draft, having recorded 16.5 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss in just 12 games last season at Ohio State.
"I definitely think I'm the best player in the draft," Young said. "I think I showed it on my tape. You can go to every game. I think I showed it. I definitely think I'll put my best foot forward this year. I grinded hard. Two of my biggest things are my hard work and dedication and I'm gonna bring those two to the NFL with me."
After Young, who is expected to be selected in the top three picks, it might be a while before another outside linebacker is taken. And the player taken, Wisconsin's Zach Baun, might not be a true edge rusher.
Baun had 12.5 sacks last season, ranking second in the Big Ten behind Young, but is equally good in coverage and some feel he might be better as an off-ball linebacker. Baun (6-foot-2, 238 pounds) has a bit of former Steelers linebacker Chad Brown in him. He could play inside or outside.
"I think that’s a part of my game that teams are really impressed with my ability to be so versatile and kind of do a lot of different things very well," Baun said. "With that being said, I played off the ball at the Senior Bowl and got to showcase my ability to do that. I feel completely comfortable and just willing to do whatever it takes."
LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson also is expected to go in the first round, but that's based more on what teams hope he will become rather than what he actually is. His career high for sacks was 6.5 last season, giving him 9.5 for his career as a three-year starter, though he bends well off the edge and has excellent speed. But with former LSU high-profile misses such as Barkevious Mingo and Arden Key, some teams might be scared off.
Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos and Iowa's A.J. Epenesa are both considered edge rushers, as well, but are better suited to be 4-3 defensive ends than they are 3-4 outside linebackers.
In the second round, the Steelers could consider Tennessee's Darrell Taylor, Notre Dame's Julian Okwara or Florida's Jabari Zuninga, though they might be better as third-round picks.
Other top prospects are players who have great production but are lacking athleticism, such as Utah's Bradley Anae, or players with at least one year of good production but a lengthy injury history, such as Alabama's Terrell Lewis.
In the middle rounds, the Steelers might not be quite as picky about such things and might be willing to overlook a lack of ideal size, speed, production or an injury history. There, they could look at Alabama's Anfernee Jennings, Tulsa's Trevis Gibson or a small-school prospect such as Charlotte's Alex Highsmith.
If they wait until very late, South Carolina's D.J. Wonnum or North Dakota State's Derek Tuszka could be of interest.
Wonnum was a three-time team captain for the Gamecocks, but missed most of 2018 with an injury, while Tuszka recorded 21 sacks the past two seasons but would obviously making a big step up in competition.
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