Steelers May Not Need To Address Outside Linebacker Early During The 2023 NFL Draft Due To A Forgotten About Signing This Offseason

With the 2023 NFL Draft quickly approaching, the front office of the Pittsburgh Steelers is in the final stages of preparing strategies to help add as much talent to the roster as possible. One positional group the team will undoubtedly consider looking bolster is outside linebacker, a position in which the organization has not done much to address this offseason. 

Could this mean the Steelers are targeting a pass rusher with one of their top selections? It's quite possible as the team has held Top 30 visits with multiple prospects in the area: most notably, Felix Anudike-Uzomah from Kansas State. The team has also reportedly shown interest in Iowa's Lukas Van Ness. Fortunately, the Steelers already have their starters in place at outside linebacker with TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. 

However, the importance of having reliable depth with rushing the passer can not be overstated. While the idea of adding a player such Anudike-Uzomah or Van Ness is extremely intriguing, the Steelers may already have a solid option at the position heading into 2023: former sixth-round pick, Quincy Roche. 

With all of the free agent moves made by Omar Khan this offseason, many have forgotten that the team signed Roche to a Reserves/Futures contract in January. This will be Roche's second stint in Pittsburgh after he has spent the past two seasons with the New York Giants on the active roster as well as the practice squad. 

Is Roche An Actual OLB3 Candidate For The Steelers? 

Roche is far from a safe bet to occupy the Steelers' primary backup outside linebacker position. However, aside from Watt and Highsmith, he is the only player on the current roster who has a legitimate shot of cracking the 53-man roster in August. 

The former sixth-round pick has certainly had moments during his short NFL career of being effective while rushing the passer. During the 2021 preseason, Roche was arguably one of Pittsburgh's best defensive players and was a surprising cut before the start of the regular season. 

Ultimately, Roche was claimed by the Giants shortly after and had a respectable rookie campaign, compiling 38 tackles to go along with five tackles for loss and two and a half sacks. He would only play in three games in 2022 and did not record any sacks or tackles for loss. Now that he is back with the Steelers, he may finally be ready to make a leap into being a legitimate candidate for a 2023 roster spot.

Even if the Steelers do decide to add an outside linebacker during the 2023 NFL Draft, do not be surprised if Roche still is on the active roster next season. His impressive size at 6'3" and 245 pounds combined with his ability to be effective in getting after the quarterback and setting the edge on run plays makes him a logical fit for the Steelers' 3-4 defense.

He may finally have the opportunity to prove himself in Pittsburgh after the team failed to bring him back to the practice squad in 2021. If Roche can manage to have a productive training camp and preseason, he may serve as an inexpensive option to play meaningful snaps behind Watt and Highsmith in 2023. 

Thoughts, Steeler Nation? 

What do yinz think about Roche being the primary backup outside linebacker for the Steelers next season? Would you feel more comfortable with the depth at pass rusher if the team drafted an exciting prospect during the 2023 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments!

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