The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly bringing back DL Isaiahh Loudermilk on a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on X.
Part of the team’s 2021 draft class and a prospect the team traded up for, Loudermilk became a rotational base defensive end during his Steelers career. In four years with Pittsburgh, he appeared in 58 games, starting five and recording 63 tackles with one sack. Active for all 17 games in 2024, he posted 17 tackles and one pass deflection across 222 defensive snaps.
A run defender who mostly played defensive end in the Steelers’ 3-4 front, his role became more focused and refined, but he never developed as a pass rusher. Per our defensive charting, Loudermilk logged just 83 sub-package snaps in 2024. All five of his career starts came over his first two NFL seasons. While strictly a backup in 2024, he consistently dressed over DL Dean Lowry, who signed a two-year deal ahead of the 2024 season.
Loudermilk was only inactive for the Week 18 game against the Cincinnati Bengals last year. He played in the playoff loss to the Ravens and logged three total tackles on 33 defensive snaps.
He joins Daniel Ekuale as the latest defensive lineman to sign a contract with the Steelers. The Steelers are still likely to draft a defensive lineman over the first two days of the upcoming draft.
According to the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster in 2024, they kept eight total defensive linemen. Right now, that would be Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Daniel Ekuale, Montravius Adams, and Dean Lowry. That leaves three spots between DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Logan Lee, Jacob Slade, Domenique Davis, and whoever the Steelers select in the draft. That could even end up being two rookies that enter the mix, given the depth and talent of this draft class.
Loudermilk’s 156 special teams snaps last year will help his case, as will the fact that he suited up over Lowry on game day most games last season.
