The Pittsburgh Steelers have undergone more changes this offseason than the franchise has in the past 20 years. A new head coach and an almost completely revamped coaching staff. A first-round pick who did not check the usual boxes of interest. A belief in drafting and developing quarterbacks and confidence for the first time in decades that it could actually happen.
One thing that has changed? What Pittsburgh looks for along the defensive line. The traits that applied to Cam Heyward still apply. Big. Long. Strong. And play with unreal effort.
Pittsburgh’s offseason additions prove that. Veteran free-agent signing Sebastian Joseph-Day is a run-stuffer through and through. At 6’3, over 300 pounds, with long 34 1/2 inch arms, his game has always been about winning against the run. As a pass rusher, he’s limited. But he’ll give everything he has to stop the run, and largely, has done that well throughout his career.
Of the 144 qualified defensive linemen last season, PFF ranked Joseph-Day’s run defense 31st-best. In 2024, he ranked in the top ten.
The rookies are the same. Sixth-rounder Gabriel Rubio was a bona fide surprise and someone off our radar. Shame on me for overlooking. Overlooked by draft analysts, he fits the Steelers’ requirements. About 6’5, over 300 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms. He’s hard to move against the run, as his 2024 five-star matchup against Penn State OG and future first-rounder Vega Ioane showed. His effort is off-the-charts, too.
Similar things can be said about Syracuse UDFA Kevin Jobity Jr. Breaking out in 2025, he posted six tackles for a loss and five sacks with standout performances against UConn and Pitt. Well-built at 6044, 308 pounds with greater-than-33-inch hands, Jobity brings a little bit against the run and pass. His effort is clear and consistent on tape.
Below is a cut-up of the “hustle” plays Rubio (No. 97) and Jobity (No. 94)showed in college.
No matter if you’re a star like Cam Heyward or Stephon Tuitt or an undrafted player like Rubio and Jobity, the defensive line mantra is the same. Be big, be physical, stuff the run, and chase the ball. If you can’t do those things, you don’t have a place.
It’s a compliment. Not a criticism. Pittsburgh’s found long-standing success with these traits. And the Steelers have needed to improve against the run, struggling since the 2024 Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh must get back to meeting that bar, especially against run-heavy divisional outfits like the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns (who hired former Ravens’ OC Todd Monken as their new head coach).
The only issue is the difficulty in finding these players. In a world where defenses have gotten smaller and quicker over the years, these throwback defensive ends are rare. It’s why Pittsburgh felt the need to draft Rubio above expectations. The Steelers value him more than other teams.
The long-term hope is that the NFL’s cyclical nature, already shifting to bigger bodies, multiple tight ends, and the run game, will restock the shelves and give Pittsburgh more options along the defensive line. That will be key as the Steelers search for Cam Heyward’s long-term successor. Derrick Harmon is one part of that, a player who certainly fits the mold, but the Steelers will need more.