The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the busiest teams this offseason in the entire NFL. This has seemingly been the pattern for General Manger Omar Khan since he's taken over the position. The Steelers' front office has added depth to every position on defense, but there are still question marks as to who will be the Week 1 starting middle linebackers.
Emilee Fails / Washington Football Team
Steelers' new inside linebacker Cole Holcomb (55) will likely be one of the starting linebackers for the Steelers come Week 1 of the 2023 season.
The Steelers brought in Cole Holcomb via free agency earlier this offseason. Holcomb, who was formerly with the Washington Commanders for his first four seasons in the NFL, had a stellar 2021 season where he racked up 142 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
2021 was by far the most impressive season for Holcomb, but his 2022 campaign was the polar opposite and did not go as planned. He was sidelined for the season after the Commanders' Week 7 matchup after having season-ending foot surgery.
After the Steelers decided to cut veteran linebacker Myles Jack earlier this offseason, they have yet to find the guy that can solidify the middle linebacker spot next to Holcomb in 2023. Mark Robinson, who was the Steelers' seventh round draft pick back in 2022, showed flashes throughout the preseason last year, as well as some in-game action during the later stages of the season in 2022. Although it is likely he will see the field more in 2023, it is unlikely we see Robinson as a starting inside linebacker come Week 1 of the 2023 season. Elandon Roberts was also signed this offseason, but will he (or does he) have the capability to be an every down off-ball linebacker?
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus came out with an article on Wednesday stating he believes he has found one former first-round pick that could play next to Holcomb in 2023 and significantly impact the Steelers' run defense.
Pro Football Focus Believes The Steelers Should Target Veteran Linebacker Rashaan Evans
Regarding the free agent acquisitions the Steelers have made overall under Khan's tenure, one thing is certain: he wants to bring veteran leadership into the locker room. If the Steelers are looking to replace Jack with another veteran option, Rashaan Evans would be a solid candidate.
TODD KIRKLAND / GETTY IMAGES
Rashaan Evans (54) sacking San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the Atlanta Falcons' Week 6 matchup on October 16, 2022.
Spielberger in his article stated that adding Evans would mimic what the Steelers have been trying to accomplish over the past few seasons when it comes to off-ball linebackers, but with Evans coming off a season where he saw multiple career highs, the odds of him seeing success are much higher in Pittsburgh than the past players the Steelers have brought in.
"The Steelers have rotated through a handful of former highly drafted off-ball linebackers over the past few seasons and follow a similar idea here with the 2018 first-rounder," Spielberger wrote Evans is coming off career highs with 1,104 snaps, 46 defensive stops and 110 tackles, while missing only 7.3% of opportunities."
Spielberger also commented on how he thought Evans and Holcomb would ultimately make a good duo and help solidify the Steelers' run defense, which was one area the Steelers could've used some help in when it came to putting away teams in crucial situations during moments in the 2022 season.
"However they’re ultimately aligned (Holcomb and Evans), both players have experience across the formation and should work well together behind a stout defensive line. Pittsburgh needs to be better against the run in 2023, especially as they battle with a tough schedule that could build early leads against them. Evans can make a difference."
Regardless if the Steelers decide to add Evans or not, the entire defensive unit as a whole looks significantly better on paper than it did heading into the 2022 season. Having a healthy T.J. Watt will be key to the Steelers' success on defense in 2023, but also having multiple holes filled in the front seven and secondary will pay dividends for the Steelers heading into their Week 1 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. We will know real quick whether or not this defense is for real when one of the highest-performing offenses comes to Pittsburgh for the opening week of the season.
What do you think? Should the Steelers make one final move before training camp and bring in Evans? If not, who would you like to see them bring in? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
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