PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He is the one player that will get in the Steelers locker room Friday and not be phased by the color scheme. Iowa defensive lineman Logan Lee grew up a Steelers fan in Chicago, went to Iowa and now is continuing his career in black and gold.
Unlike the first-day draft picks, sixth-round picks usually aren’t in a defined role and fighting for any snaps they get to secure a spot on this roster. Connor Heyward is the Steelers last sixth-round pick and he has played in every game. The previous sixth rounder, Quincy Roche in 2021, was released after leading the team in sacks in the preseason.
“Wherever they ask me is where I see myself,” Lee said. “I'm not quite sure yet. I'm just looking forward to getting into the building.”
Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar called Lee another piece to the puzzle. The key for project players, and Lee would be one, is are they fundamentally sound and can they take coaching?
“Those are some of the things we saw with Logan when we watched the film and we know and understand his pedigree, where he comes from, and what they did allow,” Dunbar said.
Iowa did not allow much defensively despite an offense that not only didn’t score put couldn’t stay on the field in 2023. The Hawkeyes were 102nd in time of possession and 130th in scoring. These rankings are out of 133 FBS teams. The defense was fourth in points allowed in the nation after being third the previous year.
The 6’5”, 281-pound Lee was fifth on the team in tackles as a defensive tackle. He has all of the intangibles you like from a player who is trying to beat the odds and make a career in the NFL. He won the team ‘hustle’ awards, academic awards, was a wrestler in high school-which coaches love and never missed a game due to injury.
Lee started his journey by gaining 30 pounds since last summer, yet finishing fifth among all defensive linemen in the athleticism score at the NFL Combine. Dunbar believes he fits the Steelers mold with his size, strength and maturity.
Where does he fit on the field?
“Defensive end, he can play anywhere from the five-technique to a zero, you know, because he's that kind of guy,” Dunbar said. “He has the girth for his 295 pounds that he could play outside because he has a little speed but he's going to be mostly an interior guy defensive end in our three-four package.”
Position flexibility is a buzz word in Steelers, and probably every, training camp. He’s also shown he can make an impact on special teams, Lee blocked a pair of field goals during his career.
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Dunbar said the Steelers were looking for the right fit at the right time and they got that with Lee.
Lee said he’s ‘absolutely ecstatic’ to be a teammate with Cam Heyward. He can’t wait to work with him and likely will ask him a ton of questions. Maybe Heyward will recall a tale of a 6’5”, 269-pound defensive end the Steelers took in the seventh round years ago. After busting his butt on special teams, Brett Keisel played 156 games on a defensive line that won two Super Bowls.