Amongst the biggest needs this off-season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, inside linebacker sits pretty high on that list. Really ever since the tragic ending to Ryan Shazier’s career, the team has been looking for a guy on the inside to set the tone for the defense. Former general manager, Kevin Colbert went against the franchise’s norms and traded multiple picks to move up and select Devin Bush in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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After one year, he seemed to be ascending toward something special. Bush finished third in the 2019 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind two stars, Maxx Crosby and Nick Bosa. Then, the torn ACL happened in 2020, his second NFL campaign. After four seasons in Pittsburgh, he’s now a free agent, and it feels like a foregone conclusion that he will be headed elsewhere.
Myles Jack was signed to a two-year, $16 million deal last off-season. He didn’t quite live up to that contract in 2022, and he could become a cap casualty this off-season. In other words, the team is still on the search for a middle linebacker (or two). They’ve swung and missed on a few guys, making it an important off-season for the position. CBS Sports doesn’t think it’s as concerning of a need though. Bryan DeArdo thinks that if the team brings back veteran Robert Spillane, they will be just fine.
“Insider linebacker isn't too much of a concern given that the Steelers can probably re-sign Robert Spillane before the start of free agency," DeArdo said regarding the team's LB situation.
Spillane has made a name for himself in the NFL after going undrafted. He’s now played the last four seasons in Pittsburgh, mostly serving as a spot starter when needed. To think of him as the savior of the team's inside linebacker position though, that's a concerning sentiment. Of the 81 qualified linebackers in 2022, Pro Football Focus ranked Spillane 69th, while Jack was 65th.
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It's obvious the team needs some help at the position, as Brian Flores wasn't able to help the linebackers as much as one would have hoped. Jack still has the potential and speed to be one of the better linebackers in football. As for Spillane, the ceiling of his game has always been as a rotational defender and third or fourth option at linebacker. Mark Robinson is a name to watch for this position group in 2023.
He came around at the end of his rookie campaign this past season, as he saw more snaps the last few weeks. Robinson has a physicality to his game that can’t be taught, something that could help the team’s run defense. There are a few good free agent options, such as Tremaine Edmunds and Kyzir White, but the team doesn't have much cap space at the moment. Additionally, this year's draft class seems pretty weak at ILB.
What do you think the front office should do with the ILB position this off-season? Do you think bringing back Spillane would be enough? Are there any ideal targets in the 2023 NFL Draft? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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