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Steelers president Art Rooney II said the defense needs to become more productive as a pass rushing group. That's no surprise to Steelers fans. The team managed only 33 sacks in the 2014 season.
ESPN Draft analyst Mel Kiper spoke to ESPN reporters Friday, giving the impression the Steelers may not need to use the 22nd overall pick in the draft to get a good pass rusher.
"That’s probably the strongest position in this draft, those combo guys that can get after the quarterback," Kiper said on a conference call attended by ESPN reporter Scott Brown. He noted Arkansas’ Trey Flowers, Lousiville’s Lorenzo Mauldin and Utah’s Nate Orchard as second or third round options who could be impact players.
The position will almost certainly have to be addressed in the draft, and decisions will have to be made on the futures of Jason Worilds and Arthur Moats. Both players are unrestricted free agents, and the Steelers have just one experienced outside linebacker on the roster - third-year player Jarvis Jones.