The Pittsburgh Steelers have quite a few holes to fill in the draft if they plan on competing in the AFC North this year. While the team was able to keep several key pieces together, they said goodbye to several important players, too. With eight picks in the draft, the Steelers will need to hit some home runs in order to replace some of their off-season departures. Despite their inside linebackers group remaining in tact, the Steelers could still look to address that position in the draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Needs Still Include Linebacker
A Look at the Depth Chart
The Steelers group of linebackers was looking depleted earlier in the off-season. It consisted of Devin Bush, who is coming off a torn ACL, and Robert Spillane, who was solid last year but still has obvious limitations. That’s it. Veteran Vince Williams was cut and 2020 mid-season addition Avery Williamson remains a free agent. The situation improved when Williams was re-signed to a new deal, putting some depth and veteran presence back into the group.
Beyond these three players, there is not much to talk about in the Steelers group of linebackers. Marcus Allen made the switch from safety to linebacker last season and was respectable in limited reps. Ulysees Gilbert III has shown flashes of potential but has never had a chance to show it due to multiple injuries. Even when looking at the starters, Bush is the only player who should be playing every down. Spillane and Williams are questionable in coverage, while Allen and Gilbert are more suited to be dime-backers and should not be on the field against the run.
Steelers Potential Draft Options
Earlier in the off-season, the odds of the Steelers drafting a linebacker with their first selection seemed reasonable. They only had two reliable linebackers on the roster. Getting Vince Williams back reduces the odds of them going that route with the 24th pick. If they are able to re-sign Williamson, too, that could remove linebacker from their board all together, as he is a more well-rounded linebacker than Williams or Spillane. For now, though, he is not on the roster.
If a prospect like Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah falls to 24, he would be tough for the Steelers to pass up. Even with their other obvious needs, it would be tempting to pair another athletic freak beside Devin Bush for years to come. Owusu-Koramoah also offers versatility; he can play all over the place on defense. Players like Nick Bolton or Zaven Collins could be intriguing in the second round, but they may not fall to number 55.
With the re-signing of Williams and other holes on the roster, the Steelers will probably look to draft a linebacker later in the draft. Positions like offensive line, running back, and cornerback could be higher priorities. If they wait until later rounds to address linebacker, they should prioritize pass coverage. Of course, getting a potential three round linebacker would be ideal. But if they can’t find a well-rounded prospect, a coverage backer is more important. While Spillane and Williams could split snaps on early downs, the rookie could play alongside Bush in passing situations.
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