The Pittsburgh Steelers have finished up the 2023 NFL Draft and added starters and depth players at positions of need. The team took care of some offensive line and secondary troubles and is now shifting focus to the remaining free agents available before training camp. The Steelers still have roster spots available, even after some recent moves and camp invites. The team has been linked to this top remaining free agent in 2023.
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Current Free Agent linebacker Kyle Van Noy celebrating
Kyle Van Noy is a name that Steelers fans may recognize from his five years with the New England Patriots. Van Noy also spent time with the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and the Los Angeles Chargers. He was most recently linked to the Steelers via Pro Football Focus.
Predicting the landing spots for the top remaining free agents pic.twitter.com/7xuyQWAEkQ
— PFF (@PFF) May 4, 2023
Van Noy started 13 games for the Chargers and had 42 tackles in 2022. He has played both inside and outside linebacker during his career. The veteran could be an asset to Pittsburgh. Van Noy is a player with 126 games played and 86 career starts under his belt and at 32 years old, could be the veteran presence that the Steelers are looking for in both linebacker rooms.
Off the field, Van Noy is known for his philanthropic work. He founded the Van Noy Valor Foundation in 2014, which supports adopted, disadvantaged, and foster children. The foundation has hosted several events, including a celebrity server night, a youth football camp, and a holiday party for children in foster care. In recognition of his charitable work, Van Noy was named the Patriots' Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2019, an award that honors a player's volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field.
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Free Agent Linebacker Kyle Van Noy could make a difference this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers said goodbye to linebackers Myles Jack, Robert Spillane, and Devin Bush during the 2023 free agency period. With the top three linebackers from last year's defense leaving, the Steelers were in total rework mode at this position. Bringing in two players in free agency in Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, the Steelers could be looking for a veteran to solidify the room and work in with this group.
The team seems to be high on now second-year player Mark Robinson, but they could be looking to make a Patrick Peterson-like addition to the linebacker core to see what young players can learn from Van Noy.
Van Noy shares something in common with Holcomb and Roberts as well as all three players were captains for their team at one point in their careers. The Steelers have been targeting leadership for the middle part of their defense and Van Noy brings that and experience with him.
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Free Agent Kyle Van Noy served as team Captain for the Dolphins in 2020
Steelers Would Benefit From Adding Van Noy
Van Noy could also add depth to the outside edge position. The Steelers took Nick Herbig in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft amnd pairing him with the elite grouping of TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith could be a great three-headed monster for the upcoming season.
The Steelers could, however, be looking for a fourth guy to take the pressure off, or to assist if there was an injury, like last year with Watt and his pectoral injury. Having five sacks off the edge last year with the Chargers, Van Noy could become that fourth man and bring in a veteran presence and leadership on defense to assist with Herbig and help out the rest of the team as well.
What do you think the Steelers should do with the Inside linebacker position? Do you think the Steelers should sign a free agent? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.
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