It’s always a great sign when every recent draft pick can make the team. Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers received some major contributions from their 2023 draft class and the future is looking bright for this group. Unfortunately, having every draft pick make the team isn’t always reasonable, nor is it realistic.
It goes without saying that the higher a player is selected in the NFL Draft, the better shot they have of making the roster. When teams invest high draft capital in a player, that player is going to get every opportunity to prove himself.
On the other hand, lower draft investments are hardly guaranteed spots on the 53-man roster. Unfortunately, one Steelers draft pick is already in danger of losing a roster spot in 2024.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a type when it comes to the interior defensive line. Their draft trends have shown that they like tall players who they can groom to play base defensive end in their 3-4 defense. In the case of Logan Lee, the front office was willing to overlook his short arms and light frame (just 281 pounds at the NFL Combine).
Early in training camp, Lee appears to be buried on the roster. When he trots onto the practice field for team sessions, it’s typically with the third-string defense.
It’s not hard to see why his chances of cracking the roster are slim.
Ahead of him on the depth chart are players like Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Larry Ogunjobi, and Montravius Adams. Meanwhile, DeMarvin Leal has been one of the stars of Steelers training camp, and Isaiahh Loudermilk is earning more looks with the second-team defense than Lee. This doesn’t even count veteran Dean Lowry, who has been nursing an injury.
Lee’s clearest path to the roster is a difficult one. Not only would the Steelers have to keep a seventh defensive lineman in order for him to make the team, but he would likely need to beat out Loudermilk or Leal for the final spot on the defensive line. The only other path to the roster is if one of the aforementioned defensive linemen suffers an injury and isn’t ready to go by the start of the season.
I won’t say that there’s no chance for Logan Lee to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster, but things are not looking encouraging so far. Pittsburgh’s sixth-round draft pick from 2024 is trending toward beginning his NFL career on the practice squad.
