Montravius Adams Brings Balance To The Defensive Line

It did not take long for veteran defensive lineman Montravius Adams to make an impression on the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense.

With injuries plaguing the defensive line, Adams was signed by the team on November 30, 2021, from the New Orleans Saints practice squad. Within a few days, he was thrust into action in Week 13, where he contributed two tackles and a pass breakup in their win against the Baltimore Ravens.

Though his impact was not seen on the stats sheet, the Steelers' run defense, which was ranked among the worst in the NFL, was much improved with his presence. In the last weeks of the 2021 season, the team went 3-2 when Adams played, earning an improbable playoff spot in the process. Adams himself would play 171 defensive snaps with the Steelers and earn an overall grade of 60.5 from Pro Football Focus.

This offseason has seen new additions to their defensive line, as they added rookie DeMarvin Leal through this year's NFL Draft and former Cincinnati Bengals lineman Larry Ogunjobi. The Steelers have arguably the deepest defensive line in the AFC with the return of veteran Tyson Alualu and ascending linemen Chris Wormley and Isaiahh Loudermilk.

Yet, Adams's ability to play multiple spots on the defensive line makes him an integral part of the depth, which should serve them well during the latter portions of the season. There is no question that his contributions will need to be as impactful as they were a season ago.

Whether his defensive snaps decrease as a result of the team's new additions remains to be seen. For now, his presence means that the defensive line has the type of balance other teams desire.