Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft starting on April 29th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up…
Tedarrell Slaton (Defensive Tackle), University of Florida, Senior
OVERVIEW:
Free agency in Pittsburgh has been difficult to digest thus far. There is still a long way to go, and who knows what the depth on the defensive side of the ball is going to look like in 2021. With the recent Tyson Alualu news and Chris Wormley’s status still uncertain, the Steelers may want to look to construct a deep, physical defensive line (remember that porous run defense towards the end of the 2020 season?). Who better to compete for the third starting spot with Isaiah Buggs, Carlos Davis, and Henry Mondeaux than Tedarrell Slaton.
PROS:
Coming in at 6’5” and 340 pounds, Slaton is built for the trenches (for reference, Casey Hampton was about 325 pounds, Ndamukong Suh is 313 pounds, and Buggs is about 295 pounds). Paired with his size, Slaton has the elite ability to burst off the line and move offensive lineman back. He plays well at pad level and can disrupt plays before they begin. In college, Slaton racked up 99 total tackles with 3.5 sacks. It goes without saying that Slaton could be the game-wrecking force that Steelers Nation adores.
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CONS:
Like any young, bruising player, overall fundamentals are lacking. Slaton is blessed to overcome that with size, but that only gets you so far in today’s NFL. He seems to be inconsistent in his hand placement and balance, and this has resulted in instances where he is beat at the line on a pass rush and falls out of the play. These inconsistencies may lead to Slaton only being a 2-down player. Slaton will need to be developed to become an every-down anchor on the defensive line. He will definitely be a project for NFL coaches to get him to reach his full potential.
VERDICT:
The Steelers love a deep and consistent defensive line. This is absolutely critical to winning, especially in a physical AFC North conference. Slaton is currently projected to be selected in the late fourth to early sixth round. This will give the Steelers the ability to revamp the offense and linebacker corps first, and then go after Slaton. I like what Slaton could bring to the Steel City and think he could be the nose tackle we need.
Where do you think Slaton will land in April? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
