Can New Steelers Addition Cole Holcomb Reverse The Trend Of Failed Inside Linebacker Free Agent Signings In Pittsburgh?

Meet your newest Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker, Cole Holcomb. Holcomb has reportedly inked a three-year deal with the team after spending his first four seasons with the Washington Commanders. No, Holcomb is not a household name such as Tremaine Edmunds or Bobby Wagner. However, he is a proven inside linebacker in this league who has the ability to compete with Mark Robinson, among others, for the starting spot alongside Myles Jack. 

Jon Bostic, Mark Barron, Joe Schobert, and Devin Bush are just a few examples of attempts made by the Steelers to resolve their issues at inside linebacker over the past few years. Apart from Bush, not a single one of these players have lasted longer than one season in Pittsburgh. Will Holcomb be able to stop the revolving door at ILB the team has had since Ryan Shazier sustained his career-ending injury? Only time will tell. However, General Manager Omar Khan should feel confident in his decision to bring aboard Holcomb. Optimistically speaking, he has every opportunity in the world to be the long-term answer at such an invaluable position for the Steelers. 

Steelers Interest At ILB: 2023 Free Agency 

The Steelers have been “heavy” in the ILB market since the NFL’s Legal Tampering Period opened up on Monday, March 13th. The team reportedly had an interest in signing free agent linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch before he ultimately opted to return to the Dallas Cowboys. There have been numerous other inside linebackers who have been linked to the Steelers such as David Long, TJ Edwards, and Kyzir White. The official contract details have yet to be announced for Holcomb, but one would assume it would fall somewhere in the neighborhood of $5 million - $7 million in annual salary, similar to other deals signed by veteran inside linebackers such as Long and White. 

The decision to bring in Cole Holcomb became increasingly important after former Steelers’ linebacker, Robert Spillane, opted to take his talents out west and sign a reported two-year, $9 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Many viewed a reunion between Spillane and the Steelers as a sure thing. However, it is very likely that the Steelers were not willing to pay a player of Spillane’s caliber that kind of money. Fellow free agent linebacker, Devin Bush, has already made his intentions clear of playing elsewhere next season. 

That leaves Holcomb to join the forces of Myles Jack and Mark Robinson in the inside linebacker room next season. A great start for General Manager Omar Khan, but the Steelers are far from finished to adding quality players to this positional group. 

Whether or not Holcomb is your day-one starter beside Myles Jack or simply a depth piece at ILB is yet to be seen. He will need to prove he is capable of remaining healthy in order for the Steelers to be confident in naming him a starter. When healthy, Holcomb is a highly productive off-ball linebacker who has the potential to play all three downs. During his best season with Washington in 2021, Holcomb racked up over 140 tackles to go along with two forced fumbles and two interceptions. 

He is also only 26 years old. Additionally, he was reported to sign a three-year deal with Pittsburgh, meaning that the Steelers see him as more than just a one-year rental player. 

Final Thoughts On Newly Signed Pittsburgh Steelers' ILB, Cole Holcomb

It is important to note that the free agent class of inside linebackers this year was incredibly deep, meaning that Omar Khan had a wide variety of players to choose from. For him to eventually land on Holcomb, it speaks volumes as to the type of impact player the team believes he can be. He is an athletic and intelligent linebacker, who when healthy, has proven to be a play-maker who can disrupt games. If all goes well, Steelers' fans may look back on this signing and view it as a start of a new era. An era in which the Steelers finally found their long-term answer at inside linebacker. 

Alright, Steeler Nation. There have to be some strong thoughts and options on this signing! What do you think of the decision to bring Holcomb in? Would you rather the Steelers have targeted a big name player who is still on the market such as Bobby Wagner? How does the signing of Holcomb affect the Steelers' draft plans at ILB? Let's hear it in the comments. 

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