NFL Draft daily: Picking the right nose

Tenth in a daily series leading into the 2020 NFL Draft, April 23-25:

One of the reasons the Steelers' defense became a dominant unit in 2019 was the continued progression of its front four. Part of that was the improvement of outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree.

But exceptionally strong play -- once again -- from the team's defensive line unit allowed the Steelers to get to the passer with just four rushers, with the defensive line rotation providing a big part of that.

Cam Heyward has continued to be one of the league's best defensive tackles, once again putting together an All-Pro season in 2019.

Bookend Stephon Tuitt was on his way to joining Heyward in elite status until a torn pectoral muscle ended his season after just six games.

But that allowed nose tackle Javon Hargrave, veteran Tyson Alualu and rookie Isaiah Buggs to receive even more playing time than they would have gotten and all had very solid seasons.

That proved to be a bit of a curse, as Hargrave left in free agency, signing a three-year deal with the Eagles worth $39 million, more than the Steelers could have possibly payed for a player who played just 43 percent of the snaps in 2018 when Tuitt was healthy.

But Tuitt will be back in 2020 and the Steelers added defensive end Chris Wormley and a seventh-round pick next year via a trade with the Ravens for a fifth-round 2021 draft pick to bolster their depth even further.

However, with Hargrave now with the Eagles, the Steelers could use another player to pair with Alualu at nose tackle, where he figures to line up to help ease the loss. Veteran Daniel McCullers remains on the roster, but has proven time and again he's nothing more than a depth piece.

With Alualu now 33 and heading into the final year of his contract, the Steelers might want to add another run-stuffing nose tackle to their roster in this year's NFL Draft, which will be held Thursday through Saturday.

It's a very specific need and not one that many teams truly have. Most teams are looking for 300-pound players who can rush the passer, hence the interest in Hargrave in free agency. In Heyward, Tuitt, Wormley and Buggs, the Steelers have four of those.

That makes finding a run-stuffer a little easier.

Auburn's Derrick Brown and South Carolina's Javon Kinlaw are the top two defensive tackles in this year's draft and will be long gone by the time the Steelers make their first pick in the second round. The Steelers don't have a first-round draft pick after trading that as part of the deal to acquire safety Minkah Fitzpatrick last season.

And the next group of defensive tackles -- Auburn's Marlon Davidson, TCU's Ross Blacklock, Justin Madibuke of Texas A&M and Jordan Elliott of Missouri -- really don't fit the mold of true nose tackles.

In fact, as they did with Hargrave in 2017, the Steelers could wait until the third round or later to fill the position, given that most of the defensive tackles taken earlier will be valued more for their pass rushing skills than anything else.

Oklahoma's Neville Gallimore could interest the Steelers if he's available to them in the third round, where they have the 102nd pick. But that's unlikely, meaning the team will likely look for more of a true nose tackle body type.

Davon Hamilton of Ohio State is a little taller than ideal at over 6-foot-3, but at 320 pounds, he has the bulk to hold the point. Hamilton was only a one-year starter for the Buckeyes and averaged just over 25 snaps per game, but had good production, recording 10.5 tackles for a loss and 6 sacks last season.

The Buckeyes play a 4-3 defense, but Hamilton lined up over the center most of the time as the nose guard, so it wouldn't be a big transition for him to play the nose in a 3-4.

"Honestly I haven’t played in a 3-4 really, but obviously there’s gonna be differences just because being a 0 head up and then a shade 1, it’s gonna be a little bit different if I play that, but either way, it’s exciting to be able to get that opportunity," Hamilton said.

If not Hamilton, Utah's Leki Fotu could interest the Steelers at the end of third round or with one of their two fourth-round selections.

At 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, Fotu blocks out the sun. And while he doesn't offer much as a true pass rusher, his ability to push the pocket and demand double teams is unique in this draft.

Much like former Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, Fotu has a background in rugby, competing as a youth in that sport on the Boys All-American Team in London.

"In football I look up to players like Haloti (Ngata)," Fotu said. "I've been watching a lot of film on him. I'm kind of the similar size in a way and I try to mimic off his game. I try to play like Star too. Just watch and learn from them."

Other nose tackle types who could interest the Steelers at some point in the draft include McTelvin Angrim of Arkansas, Rashard Lawrence of LSU, Broderick Washington of Texas Tech, Benito Jones of Mississippi and Braavion Roy of Baylor.