Free agent defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk visited the Detroit Lions on Tuesday, the NFL transaction wire reported, as the team continues to address depth along its defensive line following key offseason departures. Should Loudermilk come to terms with the Lions, it is unlikely the move would create a ripple in the pond that is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 NFL Draft plans.
The 28-year-old, 6-foot-7, 293-pound Loudermilk, a fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin by the Steelers in 2021, became an unrestricted free agent after his one-year, $1.627 million contract expired. He played just two games in 2025 before a high ankle sprain sidelined him for the rest of the season, recording no statistics in 37 defensive snaps.
For the Steelers, Loudermilk’s exit carries minimal financial impact. Spotrac projects his 2026 market value at one year and $1.197 million, an amount Pittsburgh would not have to absorb after letting him walk.
Pittsburgh already added veterans Sebastian Joseph-Day and Esezi Otomewo to a defensive line featuring Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, rookie standout Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black. A new coaching staff under Mike McCarthy has shown little attachment to the low-production reserve, who logged just 844 career snaps and seven starts over five seasons.
That departure, however, raises the question of whether Pittsburgh’s 2026 NFL Draft big board requires a reset at defensive tackle. Analysts say no.
The Steelers enter the draft with clear top priorities at wide receiver, interior offensive line and safety, according to ESPN and multiple scouting services. Loudermilk’s limited role and injury history did not create a starter void; the front office already addressed depth in free agency.
The 2026 defensive tackle class is widely viewed as thin at the top end, with no blue-chip prospects projected to go in the first round and mid-round options such as Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald or Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter offering more upside than Loudermilk ever flashed.
General manager Omar Khan has emphasized building through the draft on the lines in recent years, yet current projections show no urgent need to elevate defensive tackle above receiver or guard in the first round.
Pittsburgh’s defensive front ranked among the league’s better units in 2025 despite injuries, and the additions of Harmon and Black provide youth. Losing a rotational player who contributed zero tackles last season does not force a philosophical shift or dramatic reordering of the board, according to league observers.
Loudermilk remains unsigned as of Wednesday. The Lions have until the start of the league year to finalize any deal, while the Steelers turn their attention fully to the draft, scheduled for late April in Detroit. The Steelers won’t be caught in the wake of Loudermilk’s departure – should it occur – because he didn’t make a big enough splash while on the team to make much of a ripple. For a franchise that values versatility and scheme fit under its new regime, the visit across state lines appears more like a footnote than a franchise-altering departure.