The Pittsburgh Steelers were unusually active in free agency in the pre-2023 offseason. It was new GM Omar Khan’s first free agency period with the team and it certainly looks to be a good one. The Steelers front office addressed many needs on both sides of the ball. Overall, the team signed or re-signed more than 15 players to the original 90-man roster. A lot of the players were simply signed for depth and practice purposes and will likely not make the final 53-man list. But some of them were really good signings and those players are expected to do big things. Specifically, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed five defensive free agents who should have big or important roles on the 2023 squad.
The Five Newly Pittsburgh Steelers Free Agent Defenders Who Will Have Big Roles
The five newly-signed Steelers defenders will hopefully fill some big holes in Pittsburgh’s defense. The list includes three linebackers and two defensive backs who will be starters, depth, and mentors all year. Last year, the Steelers linebacking core was just not good. They were decent at best but struggled a ton in the passing game. The secondary wasn’t great, but to be fair the unit was decimated by injuries all year long. In 2023’s free agency period, the Steelers addressed their need in both units by signing close to ten total players. But these five, based on their past play and accomplishments, should be due to have big roles for the Steelers’ 2023 squad.
The three linebackers include ex-Commander Cole Holcomb, ex-Dolphin Elandon Roberts, and ex-Jet Kwon Alexander. Each of the three brings their own specialty but will hopefully revamp a linebacker’s core that has struggled for more than five years. And finally, the two defensive backs signed were cornerback Patrick Peterson and safety Keanu Neal. Both bring veteran leadership and durability to the secondary that will need to stay healthy to have success. These five guys are the ones that I believe are due for a big year in 2023 after signing this past offseason.
Cole Holcomb, Inside Linebacker
Holcomb is entering the fifth year of his NFL career with his best year coming in 2021. Last year, Holcomb only played in seven games due to a mid-season injury but was impressive in that short span. He racked up 69 total tackles in that limited time, good for an average of about ten tackles per game. Holcomb is a versatile linebacker who is at least decent in both facets of the game. He gets around the field well, and that is why his tackling numbers are so high. In the 2021 season, he racked up 142 tackles, two forced fumbles and interceptions each, and seven pass deflections. Returning to his old self after injury will be tough, but he should be a solid starter in 2023.
Elandon Roberts, Inside Linebacker
Roberts is entering his eighth season and just came off of his best year in 2022. He set career highs in tackles (107) and sacks (4.5) in his most productive season yet. Holcomb is faster and more agile than Roberts, but the latter has a bigger “boom” to him. He is great at stopping the run and dealing big hits with his 6’1″, 238 lb. frame. He works well as a downhill linebacker, and while the turnover numbers aren’t there, he is still disruptive to the run game. He won’t be out on the field every down but he’ll do what he can when he does play.
Kwon Alexander, Linebacker
The new Pittsburgh Steelers free agent signee that most people are excited about is linebacker Kwon Alexander. He didn’t even sign with Pittsburgh until just about a week ago but reported to camp quickly and is working hard already. Alexander is exactly the type of linebacker the Steelers have been looking for since Ryan Shazier. He was phenomenal in his first three years in the league with the Buccaneers (2015-2017), which included a Pro Bowl nod in 2017. Alexander is an all-around player who is big and strong but also excels in pass coverage. The more appropriate word would be “complete.” Alexander has been a shell of his former self for the past few years, but there’s hope he can revive that past success and find a new identity in Pittsburgh.
Patrick Peterson, Cornerback
Peterson is an eight-time Pro Bowler who has spent his entire 12-year career with the Cardinals and Vikings. He played in Arizona for ten years and made the Pro Bowl eight straight years (2011-2018). He will undoubtedly provide a veteran presence but he has definitely slowed down over the years. What was encouraging, was that Peterson set a career-high in tackles last year and had five interceptions and 15 pass breakups. He is expected to be one of the starting corners at the beginning of the year, and even at age 33, it could still be a productive season. He’s been known to be the main mentor for Joey Porter Jr., who will be looking to make a name for himself in his rookie campaign.
Keanu Neal, Safety
Wrapping up the list is safety Keanu Neal, who comes to the Steelers after seven seasons with three different teams. Neal is very athletic and versatile and that makes him a hefty tackler. He has 100+ tackles in three different seasons. That includes his two great rookie and second-year campaigns in 2016 and 2017, where he forced nine total turnovers. He hasn’t been as effective in the turnover and playmaking departments but is still a strong and dependable tackler. His play style is similar to Minkah Fitzpatrick’s field general mentality, but Fitzpatrick has him beat in the playmaking game. Overall, Neal is still a very solid option as a backup safety and in various cornerback roles too. He could even find himself in a starter’s role as the season goes on.
Main Image: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
