Iowa’s Logan Lee drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers in sixth round

IOWA CITY — Logan Lee is the latest Iowa defensive lineman to find a home in the NFL.

The Pittsburgh Steelers took Lee off the board with the No. 178 overall pick early in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Lee, who grew up as a Steelers fan, spent time with Pittsburgh at the NFL Combine and went there on a pre-draft visit.

Now, he could help fill his childhood team’s need on the defensive line. After All-Pro veteran Cameron Hayward and 2023 second-rounder Keeanu Benton, the Steelers have a notable dropoff in talent there.

“Logan Lee brings a lot of good things to the table,” Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar told reporters in Pittsburgh. “He has size. He has length. He’s a strong kid."

Dunbar said he anticipates Lee playing defensive end in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense although he “can play anywhere from a five-technique to a zero.”

Lee was a three-year starter at Iowa as a defensive tackle and a two-time all-Big Ten honorable mention. He had 55 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2023, including three sacks.

The 6-foot-5, 281-pound defensive lineman is the fourth Hawkeye drafted this week. Cooper DeJean was a second-round selection, and Erick All and Tory Taylor were fourth-round selections.

Lee is the sixth Iowa defensive lineman drafted since 2019, joining Lukas Van Ness, Chauncey Golston, Daviyon Nixon, A.J. Epenesa and Anthony Nelson.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

Sign up for our curated Iowa Hawkeyes athletics newsletter at thegazette.com/hawks.