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Edge Rusher Believed to be High on Steelers List

Adding to T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith is key for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers will be looking for defensive line help during the offseason, but former NFL head coaches Marvin Lewis and Mike Zimmer believe they could use their first-round pick to add to the outside with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. 

The 33rd Team listed three ways the Steelers could improve this offseason, naming Kenny Pickett's growth, an improved running game and defensive explosiveness as the areas of need. Within defensive explosiveness, they highlight the d-line and say finding that third edge rusher is pivotal to Pittsburgh. 

"Defensively, we know how good they’ve been over time, but T.J. Watt missed time. They had Alex Highsmith come through with 14.5 sacks and Cameron Heyward had 10.5 sacks, but the defense was not as explosive as it has been," Lewis said. 

All Steelers has discussed the possibility of Bud Dupree returning to the Steelers this offseason, and the fit that it brings for an affordable price. 

In the NFL Draft, there will be a number of names, including a player like Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa, who has become a talking point amongst Steelers draft experts. 

The likelihood the Steelers use one of their first three picks on an edge rusher, if they do not sign one in free agency, is high. It's been years since they've had the three-edge rusher combination they're looking for. If the right name is sitting there at 17, 32 or 49, Pittsburgh will feel great adding another explosive option. 

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