While the Steelers don’t necessarily need an inside linebacker, is this class too good to pass up in the draft? There are questions about both of their starters, to be fair. Some even thought they might move on from Patrick Queen this offseason, though there are no signs of that. Their other starter, Payton Wilson, remains a rotational player, technically, though. If they can find another true every-down linebacker, why not take the chance?
Asked in a recent chat if inside linebacker could be a dark-horse draft option on Day 2 for the Steelers, Ray Fittipaldo agreed. “Yes, it is”, he wrote. “They had Jacob Rodriguez in last week. They’ve been focused on some other ILBs too”.
The Steelers used their first-round pick on an inside linebacker back in 2014 and nailed the pick with Ryan Shazier. He developed into a Pro Bowler, but he struggled to stay healthy. Eventually, he suffered a career-ending injury. They have never adequately, or at least fully, replaced him since.
Notably, the Steelers traded up in the first round of the 2019 draft for another inside linebacker, Devin Bush. Despite a promising start, he faded after tearing his ACL in 2020. More recently, he has rediscovered his footing, signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the Bears this offseason. The Steelers signed Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million contract in 2023, in part because of their perceived misstep with Bush. A year later, the Steelers drafted Payton Wilson, and he has split time at inside linebacker since. The question is whether he can develop into an every-down player.
“Wilson is athletic enough to run under some offensive linemen or run by them to make a play, but every good ILB has strong take-on and shedding skills”, Fittipaldo wrote of the Steelers’ young inside linebacker. “Wilson has to get better in that regard. But everything else? He’s really good for a defense. He’s fast. He can cover. He has a knack for being around the ball. He hustles (see the Vikings game). There is a lot to like there”.
The Steelers have taken a peek at the inside linebackers in this draft class, as Fittipaldo pointed out. We wrote about the general commonalities shared by the prospects who have caught their eyes. Basically, they are looking at speed and athleticism, which has been their priority in recent years. They still like to have a hammer, but prefer a veteran in that role.
But do the Steelers need to draft an inside linebacker this year, given what they already have? If they make no moves this offseason at the position, they stand to return all five from last year’s roster. Behind starters Queen and Wilson, they have Malik Harrison and Cole Holcomb. Last year, they drafted Carson Bruener in the seventh round, who is developing into a core special teamer.
But Queen is in the final year of his contract; do they see a long-term future with him beyond that? And if Payton Wilson can’t be trusted on run downs, what are they to do? Defenses will take advantage of that when he is in the game by running the ball. If the Steelers see an inside linebacker in the draft who checks all their boxes, why not pull the trigger?