A Pittsburgh Steelers’ scout met with DL Kyle Peko at Oregon State’s Pro Day. This makes the second time the team has shown interest in him, also talking to him during the NFLPA Bowl week.
Peko, according to the Statesman Journal, ran a 4.9 in the 40 and repped 31 times on the bench press. That would’ve tied him for third of all defensive linemen at this year’s Combine, the same mark Andrew Billings hit.
After dealing with academic issues, sitting out 2014, Peko was only able to play one year at the FBS level. He made the most of it, recording 4.5 TFL and two sacks. He said teams told him his “best football was yet to come,” according to the Statesman.
He projects as a late round pick but given how much of an unknown he was, could rise the closer we get to the draft, and as teams find out more about him. Peko is currently unranked on NFL Draft Scout’s board. He was, however, listed on an NFL.com Top 200 list even before the season started, getting noticed as the cousin of Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive tackle Domata Peko.
Around 6’1, 308 pounds, he would project more as a nose tackle in the Steelers’ scheme. Currently, there is a void on the roster after the Steelers lost Steve McLendon to the New York Jets yesterday.
Also of note at OSU’s Pro Day was Isaac Seumalo, a versatile offensive lineman who has starting experience at every position but left guard. He also had a successful Combine and is a Day Three pick.
