The Steelers have made a history of taking defensive ends in college and making them into outside linebackers in their 3-4 defense. Jason Gildon, Joey Porter, Clark Haggans and Bud Dupree, last year’s No. 1 pick, are prime examples.
But it is rare, if ever, they have drafted a defensive tackle and converted him to outside linebacker. Until Anthony Chickillo, that is.
Chickillo, a sixth-round pick in 2015, played mostly defensive tackle at the University of Miami, where he started 47 games. But, when he scouted him at his pro day workout, coach Mike Tomlin liked the way Chickillo moved, even though he weighed 285 pounds as a senior.