As OTA's near, the Pittsburgh Steelers' linebacker group doesn't seem to be fully set yet. While Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts were signed in free agency, it remains to be seen if those two are the answers. As of now, Mark Robinson is the primary backup to those two. While he showed promise in training camp last year, he saw just 44 defensive snaps in his 2022 rookie year.
It seems like the Steelers have a lot of trust in linebacker Mark Robinson, as he's the team's No. 3 at the position heading into OTA's. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
That's a lot of trust in a guy that doesn't have much NFL experience. The Steelers didn't exactly address the position at the 2023 NFL Draft, either. Wisconsin's Nick Herbig was picked in the fourth round, but he played on the edge in college. While many draft pundits see him as an off-ball linebacker at the professional level, the Steelers like him on the edge.
Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin said in a press conference that the team likes Herbig on the edge and plans to keep him there. Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl added some confusion to the topic, saying the team likes Herbig at both positions. Regardless, he's not a guy you rely on as primary depth at the position. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus has an idea to fulfill the lack of depth at the position in the form of Rashaan Evans.
"Evans is coming off career highs with 1,104 snaps, 46 defensive stops and 110 tackles while missing only 7.3% of opportunities in 2022. Free agency addition Cole Holcomb is primarily a Mike linebacker, but has experience at the Will spot, which is also the situation with Evans, who was taken in the first round in 2018 after a stellar Alabama career generally lining up on the weak side."
Evans was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft. After spending four seasons with the Titans, he played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. Now, he remains a free agent a week into the month of May. His play has been inconsistent in the past, as PFF ranked him 52nd out of 81 qualifying linebackers in 2022 with a 59.6 overall grade.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers almost traded up and drafted Rashaan Evans over Terrell Edmunds in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The reason that this signing may make some sense is the interest has been there before. Back in that 2018 NFL Draft, the Steelers tried trading up to select Evans, the linebacker out of Alabama. Instead, they had to settle for defensive back Terrell Edmunds at No. 28. While it's a new regime in Pittsburgh, they clearly have shown interest in Evans in the past.
Would Steelers prefer Evans or Jack?
Evans has 67 career starts, so he would bring some much-needed additional experience to the LB room. Myles Jack, whom the Steelers signed last offseason and then cut over a month ago, still makes some sense as a guy to bring back. Jack has the advantage over Evans in the fact that he knows the defense. Still, not a bad idea by Spielberger, and it's one that makes some sense due to the past interest.
What are your thoughts on this idea of signing Evans to further the depth? Are you considered about the long-term outlook on this position? If it came down to it, would you prefer Evans or Jack? What are your expectations for Holcomb and Roberts? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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