Pittsburgh Steelers Exit Meeting: DL Keeanu Benton
Experience: 2 Years
How far along has Keeanu Benton come since the Steelers drafted him in the second round in 2023? On the whole, it’s hard to argue that he took a step forward in his second season last year. He finished with the same number of tackles and same number of sacks despite playing more. While he had an interception this year, he had two forced fumbles the previous season.
The Steelers invested a second-round pick in Benton expecting big things out of him. And they want to see big production consistently, not just occasional flashes. Now going into Year 3, some are questioning where he best fits along the defensive line.
This past season, Keeanu Benton recorded 36 tackles with one sack and an interception. He also had six passes defensed, being more active during his pass rush. The Steelers want and need more out of him than that, however.
It’s worth reminding that this is Benton’s third year he is going into next season. The Steelers are not alone in the timing of their deals, and typically, Benton would be in line for an extension. If he doesn’t show significant growth this year, would they even give him an extension?
That’s obviously premature, but only to highlight the magnitude of this season for Keeanu Benton and the Steelers. And that is a conversation that may include not only how much he plays but where he plays. Is he better suited to playing as a five-tech, or is he better along the defensive interior?
The Steelers clearly need an influx of youth and talent along their defensive line. Keeanu Benton checked both of those boxes when the Steelers drafted him, but what more is left? One sack per season isn’t exactly going to cut it, even for a nose tackle.
But then, is Benton really a nose tackle, and what does that mean for the 2025 Steelers? Even if so, he only plays a portion of his snaps there, as the Steelers play more in nickel defenses. Consistency of performance and consistency of production have both eluded him to date.
Keeanu Benton has the talent to be an excellent player, so it’s about the Steelers drawing it out of him. Are they playing him at a position to which he is not best suited?
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at home, the inevitable result of another early playoff exit. This is a repeated pattern for the organization, with no clear end in sight. As the Steelers conduct their own exit meetings, we will go down the roster conducting our own. Who should stay, and who should go, and how? Who should expect a bigger role next season, and who might deserve a new contract? We’ll explore those questions and more in these articles, part of an annual series.
