The Pittsburgh Steelers take a lot of pride in their defense, as it has been a large factor in them making the playoffs each of the last two years.
So when you get an invite to rookie minicamp to compete for a spot on their defense, you know you're doing something right.
According to his trainer, the Steelers have extended that invite to Pitt edge rusher Nate Matlack, who impressed in his one and only season with the Panthers.
He finished 2024 with five sacks, eight tackles for loss, and showed his versatility by deflecting three passes. While his numbers do not jump off the page quite as much as some of the other college edge rushers that were taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, his stats at Pitt's pro day are no joke.
He ran a 4.75 in the 40-yard dash and a 1.65 in the 10-yard split, which are very impressive with his 6-5, 250 pound frame. He was also able to post a 36.5-inch vertical, as well as a broad jump of just over 10 feet.
The Steelers obviously already have very impressive guys coming off the edge in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. So, it makes sense for the team to take a chance on a guy who could have a very high ceiling due to his combination of size and athleticism.
If Matlack can show he can use that athleticism to his advantage in the pros, he could have a decent shot of locking up a preseason roster spot.
