Pro Football Focus has released its list of the landing spots for the top free agents and it includes the Pittsburgh Steelers taking a linebacker whose stock is on the rise. That player is TJ Edwards.
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Philadelphia Eagles' T.J. Edwards is seen during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Philadelphia.
Edwards, who was undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and made the team. In 2020, he suffered a hamstring injury during Week 14. While he is not an elite player, he has made some plays that substantiate his value on a team.
He earned himself a one-year extension after a game against the New Orleans Saints, where Edwards got an interception and a fumble recovery. The Eagles rewarded him with an extension worth $3.2 million. He has been credited with being a top contributor to the Eagles reaching Super Bowl LVII, where he had six tackles and one pass defended.
Does Edwards Fill A Steelers Need?
The Steelers are in a bit of grey area with their linebacking corp and are in a state of flux. Jerry Olsavsky was just replaced by a new linebackers coach, Aaron Curry. In addition to that, Devin Bush, the former first-round pick, and Robert Spillane will both be free agents in March.
Bush has been underperforming since returning from a torn ACL in 2020. By the end of 2022, the writing appeared to be on the wall as he was benched in favor of the rookie, Mark Robinson. Spillane has improved and has been a reliable contributor during his four years in Pittsburgh.
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers, Devin Bush and Myles Jack.
The Steelers brought in Myles Jack last season and he carries an $11.25 million cap hit in 2023. That makes his return to the team questionable, especially when he did not seem to bring the kind of huge splash plays you'd expect for that amount of money.
PFF seems to agree, saying this about the potential Edwards signing:
"The Steelers signed cap casualty linebacker Myles Jack to a two-year, $16 million deal last offseason, and it's at least a possibility he finds himself in the same situation this offseason since he's owed an $8 million salary in 2023. Even if he sticks around, Devin Bush and Robert Spillane are pending free agents, and Edwards could be a multi-year solution beyond 2023."
"While Pittsburgh does not traditionally spend much in free agency, they have departed a bit from that stance in recent offseasons, notably signing guard James Daniels, among others, last offseason. The price would have to be right here with Edwards coming off a very strong 2022 campaign, during which he posted career highs with 54 defensive stops, 11 quarterback pressures, and eight pass breakups."
One thing is certain, the Steelers have work to do at the linebacker position this offseason. They have engineered, and are certainly paying for, what has the potential to be one of the best defenses in the NFL. With players like TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Cam Heyward, all they need are the last few pieces to fill in the blanks.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers' defense celebrates in a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve, 2022 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
One of the best components of Edwards's game is his run-stopping abilities. This is an area that Bush particularly struggled in, getting absolutely run over by Baltimore last season. He had 159 tackles in 2022, which tied him for sixth place in the NFL.
Edwards has flexibility too. He can scheme as a blitzer in a variety of packages. The Steelers need a hungry playmaker in the middle of their defense.
What do you think about PFF's prediction? Do you think Edwards is a good fit for the Steelers? Do you think someone on the team already is better, or do you prefer another free agent (that we can afford)? Click to comment below.
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