When the Pittsburgh Steelers brass, including head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert, were in attendance for the Alabama Pro Day recently they didn’t just meet with the usual suspects.
Sure, Ronnie Harrison and Rashaan Evans were watched and likely interviewed, but what made news was the team’s interest in Joshua Frazier. Frazier is a defensive lineman who could easily play both the 3-4 nose tackle and defensive end positions, an area the team should focus on heading into the 2018 NFL Draft.
Unheralded defensive lineman Joshua Frazier is gaining momentum after last season -- his first as a starter -- and his combine performance. Frazier is one of the better pure nose tackles in the draft. He sat on most of his combine numbers today but did improve on his broad jump, hitting 8-foot-3. Frazier has met with the Philadelphia Eagles -- who are expected to lose starter Beau Allen in free agency -- the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, and he has a workout scheduled with the Tampa Bay Bucs.
There has been a growing sentiment the Steelers need to address the defensive line this offseason, not so much to replace someone like Cameron Heyward or Stephon Tuitt, but to give them a more pure nose tackle who is capable of eating up blockers and allow the linebackers to flow and make plays.
The Steelers are certainly interested in Frazier, and it is being reported Mike Tomlin dined with the defensive lineman on Tuesday. If you haven’t figured it out yet, this is a player who will be on the team’s board, but if he will be available has yet to be seen.
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest on news surrounding the black-and-gold this offseason.