The pass rusher has long been understood and recognized as one of the premium positions in football, though one can argue that its status as such has only strengthened over the years. With that in mind, teams are increasingly placing an emphasis on insulating themselves at the position, putting more effort into acquiring quality depth.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on this path lately, albeit with mixed success, and have more often been turning to veterans rather than drafting. In 2021, it was Melvin Ingram, who ended up requesting a trade. Last year, they added Malik Reed via trade just before the season started, who should have asked to be traded himself.