Former NFL Scout puts the league on notice regarding Steelers budding star, 'Remember the name'

You might not know it yet, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have a future star on their hands with defensive lineman Keeanu Benton.

Used sparingly during his rookie campaign, you could argue that on a pound-for-pound or in this case, snap-to-snap basis, he rivaled Joey Porter Jr. for the best rookie on the team last season.

And while he prepares to take on a bigger role heading into 2024, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media is trying to prepare everyone for the storm that is coming.

Benton ready to breakout

"With Pittsburgh, let me give you the name here. If you haven't paid attention to him or you didn't notice him last year, remember the name, Keeanu Benton," Jeremiah said on his Move The Sticks podcast . "Because man, he is explosive. He flashed big time last year."

The explosiveness that Jeremiah speaks to is a rare trait for 300+ pounders. Benton might have dropped 10 pounds in this offseason to get a little leaner and better conditioned, but his 315-pound frame and cat-like quickness made him a matchup nightmare in limited action last season.

To think he could be even faster after dropping a dime is scary, and probably why Jeremiah's colleague and podcast co-host Bucky Brooks has him listed as a breakout candidate:

The Steelers are known for identifying and developing worker bees on the defensive front. Benton appears to be the next young DT poised to give opponents fits. The 6-4, 309-pounder held his own as a part-time starter for a unit specializing in bully ball in the trenches. As an energetic defender with a non-stop motor and active hands, Benton outworks and outlasts blockers to win battles on critical downs. Though it is easier to win when playing alongside T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Alex Highsmith, Benton's disruptive talents could help the Steelers get back to playing championship-caliber football. - Bucky Brooks , NFL Media

No matter how the Cam Heyward situation plays out, Benton is the obvious heir apparent along that defensive line. And that's not only in terms of his level of play, but his innate leadership that started to show face when Heyward was sitting out OTAs for leverage.

So if you could buy Benton stock, I would advise a deep-pocketed investment. His 2024 season could be the start of a decade-plus run of Pro Bowls.

Related: There is reason to believe that the contractual impasse between Cam Heyward and the Steelers could become ugly