After Bud Dupree held an official visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers in late March, many thought it would be a foregone conclusion that he would be back in the black and gold in 2023. However, due to contract complications, Dupree is the newest member of the Atlanta Falcons. Combine this with the unexpected release of fellow outside linebacker Jamir Jones earlier this week, and the Steelers have a tremendous need at pass rusher. While Dupree signing with the Falcons may seem to be a crushing blow, the Steelers still have solid options for their backup outside linebacker position going in to next season.
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Former Titans' OLB, Bud Dupree.
#1 - Kyle Van Noy
The Steelers already signed one former Miami Dolphins' linebacker in Elandon Roberts, why not make it two by bringing in Kyle Van Noy? Most recently with the Los Angeles Chargers this past season, Van Noy has been a journeyman of sorts, making stops with the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, as well as his lone season with the Chargers in 2022. At 32 years old, he is far from his best football, but still proved his worth as an edge rusher last season, compiling five sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 46 total tackles.
Throughout his career, Van Noy has played both off-ball as well as outside linebacker. The Steelers have already done well in revitalizing the inside linebacker group, but it would certainly not hurt to have a player such as Van Noy who provides an immense amount of versatility. His market value would likely be similar to that of the contract he signed this past offseason, which came in at one-year, $2.25 million. An extremely affordable option for such an invaluable position.
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Chargers' OLB, Kyle Van Noy.
#2 - Justin Houston
Nothing would make Steelers' fans happier than to steal a former Baltimore Ravens' defender. Justin Houston has spent the past two seasons with the Ravens after spending his first eight with Kansas City Chiefs followed by a two-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts. During the 2022 season, Houston was highly productive as a pass rusher, ending up with nine and a half sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hits. Interestingly enough, the Steelers showed great interest during the 2021 offseason in Houston. He ultimately turned down a contract with Pittsburgh and ended up in Baltimore. Could Omar Khan and the front office potentially show interest in him again this offseason? Certainly possible.
At age 34, Houston is limited in what he can do as an outside linebacker. He is a liability in pass coverage and lacks the speed he possessed at the early part of his career. With that being said, the man can still get after the quarterback. What he lacks in quickness, he makes up for with tremendous strength and size. He would be an exceptional addition to the Steelers' pass rush rotation as a rotational outside linebacker.
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Ravens' OLB, Justin Houston.
#3 - Oshane Ximines
Oshane Ximines is without a doubt the biggest wild card on this list. A third-round pick for the New York Giants in 2019, he was expected to be the latest edition of great pass rushers for the Giants. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Ximines. During his time in New York, he struggled with injuries and has even been a healthy inactive for the team at certain parts of his career. He showed promise during his rookie campaign, totaling four and a half sacks to go along with five tackles for loss. Since then, he has only had two sacks in the past three seasons.
His previous NFL experience is nothing to be excited about, but at only 26 years old, there is still plenty of time for him to turn his career around. His impressive size at 6'4", 250 pounds make him an intriguing option for the 3-4 defense of the Steelers. He undoubtedly needs a change of scenery to help him reach his maximum potential as a pass rusher. Could the Steelers provide him with that opportunity? For the right price, he may be an ideal candidate for the backup outside linebacker position as well as provide help with special teams.
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Giants' OLB, Oshane Ximines.
Do The Steelers Already Have An Answer At OLB3 With Quincy Roche?
The Steelers bringing back their former sixth-round pick, Quincy Roche, has been one of the most forgotten-about moves this offseason. Since Roche was cut by the Steelers in 2021, he has spent the past two seasons with the New York Giants, both on the active roster as well as the practice squad. During his rookie campaign in 2021, Roche performed well, racking up two and a half sacks to go along with five tackles for loss in 14 games. He only appeared in three games this past season.
While Roche is far from a safe bet to be the primary backup to TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, he is a physically gifted outside linebacker who the Steelers are immensely thankful to have back in the fold. The team intended on retaining him in 2021 and signing him to the practice squad, but he was added to the Giants' active roster due to his strong play in the Preseason. If the Steelers opt to go with a younger option at reserve outside linebacker, do not be surprised if Roche makes a name for himself in 2023.
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Former Giants' OLB, Quincy Roche
How Do You Feel About The Depth At OLB, Steeler Nation?
Do you like any of the options mentioned above at OLB3 for the Steelers in 2023? Is there another free agent you would like to see the team bring in? What about pass rusher prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments!
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