Episode Details

The Pittsburgh Steelers are intensifying their pre-draft preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft by hosting Illinois defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. This visit brings them closer to their limit of thirty such meetings. Thompson, standing at six foot five and weighing three hundred eight pounds, offers size and versatility after transferring from Wisconsin last year. He played alongside current Steelers defenders Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig during his time with the Badgers. Thompson lined up everywhere from three-technique to nose tackle and even some edge spots in his one season at Illinois under a three-four defense. His focus has been on stopping the run rather than rushing the passer. Last year, he started thirteen games and posted forty-one tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, and one pass defended—his best college output. In pre-draft testing, he impressed with a nine foot two broad jump and thirty-six bench press reps, earning a relative athletic score of eight point eight three out of ten. Scouts see him as a day three pick, currently ranked number two hundred seventy-six on mock draft boards, which might leave him undrafted in a three hundred fifty-seven pick draft. The Steelers had already checked him out at the East-West Shrine Bowl, and hes their first defensive lineman on these visits. As they fill out their thirty slots, expect more prospects like Thompson to help bolster the line.

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