Apr 24, 2016 4 min read

When Steve McLendon signed as a free agent with the New York Jets last month, the nose tackle left a gaping hole in the middle of the Steelers’ defense.

How the Steelers choose plug that hole will be telling about their defensive future.

Pittsburgh’s defensive philosophy seemed to shift considerably last season as the team used its five- and six-defensive-backs defenses more than 71 percent of the time. That meant McLendon, despite being a starter, was on the field for only 34 percent of the defensive snaps. Backup nose tackle Daniel McCullers played 105 snaps.

Defensive ends Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, who slide inside on passing downs, both played 90 percent or more of the snaps late in the season.

The Steelers believe the group of free-agent signee Ricardo Matthews, second-year player L.T. Walton and 2015 practice squad player Cashaud Lyons should provide adequate depth at defensive end. But behind McCullers are only untested Roy Philon and Lavon Hooks, so acquiring another nose tackle will be a necessity in the three-day, seven-round NFL draft, which begins Thursday.

The Steelers have been looking closely at several defensive tackle prospects, including some who might be on the board in the first round, where Pittsburgh has the 25th pick.

Defensive line is considered the deepest position in this draft and the Steelers must decide if they need to take a lineman in the first round or can wait to address the position later.

Pittsburgh has shown an interest in the Alabama duo of A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed, Baylor’s Andrew Billings and Vernon Butler of Louisiana Tech, all of whom Pittsburgh will likely have to draft in the first round. They are unlikely to be around in the second round.

The Steelers also have met with Mississippi’s Robert Nkemdiche, who might be one of the best talents in the draft but had off-field issues that raise plenty of red flags and might have the Steelers taking him off their draft list.

Nkemdiche was suspended for a game in college for marijuana use, then fell out of a fourth-floor window of an Atlanta hotel in an incident in which he was charged with drug possession after police found marijuana in his room.

“It was embarrassing for me and my whole family, the Ole Miss family,” said the 21-year-old Nkemdiche, whose father is a cardiologist and mother a politician in their native Nigeria. “I tell them that’s not the kind of player they’re getting. They’re getting a straight-forward player. I’m never going to return to that. I’m just moving forward.”

Robinson and Reed are classic nose tackles who take on blockers and allow linebackers to make tackles.

Billings and Butler are considered better penetrators, players who can push the pocket. Billings has 5 1/2 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season. Butler had 10 and three, respectively.

Any of those four could wind up being the Steelers’ first-round selection and the ages of the players might be a factor.

Reed is the oldest at 23 and Robinson is 22. Both Billings and Butler are 21.

In the past, the Steelers have shown a preference in drafting younger players, especially early in the draft.

“Obviously, the younger the guy, they may have more upside. The older, they’re more mature and ready to go,” said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert. “So, I think it can go either way and we won’t value one over the other. We’ll just value the total concept of who that player is, and understand that the young one may have an extra year, but it may take him an extra year. So, are you really gaining anything?”

The most intriguing nose tackle who has met with the Steelers is might not be considered a first-round prospect.

South Carolina State’s Javon Hargrave (6-1, 309) had 13 1/2 sacks last season and 45 1/2 tackles for loss the last two seasons, dominating at his level of competition. He had solid practices at college all-star games, showing that he wasn’t overwhelmed by the step up in competition.

“He’s undersized, but a quick and explosive player,” said NFL Networth draft analyst Mike Mayock. “Even in the team drills, you can see how quick his get-off is.”

If the Steelers do decide to add a defensive end prospect, they will likely do so late in the draft, something they have done quite often. Dean Lowry of Northwestern and Derrick Alexander of Tulsa might be good fits as seventh-round picks.