Steelers' Mark Robinson's Enthusiastic Attitude Gives Him A Real Shot In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to be more decisive in solving their inside linebacker problem for 2024. That led them to make the largest free agency signing in team history, adding Patrick Queen to the roster. However, the Steelers know all too well how critical depth is to that group in particular. 

The room has felt plagued ever since Ryan Shazier's tragic spinal cord injury. They bet the farm on Devin Bush, but he could not fully recover in production from an ACL tear in his second season. Then, it was Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander in 2023; both suffered season-ending injuries, and the depth had to step up.

The seventh-round pick from 2022, Mark Robinson, was always there and always had a smile on his face. While he wasn't able to fill the cleats of Holcomb or Alexander, he continued to fight for a spot on the team. He stepped up a lot in those last nine weeks of the season and even had a sack in the final game which helped propel the Black and Gold to the playoffs. Plus, he became one of the most valuable players on special teams. 

It is not clear what will happen with Robinson in 2024. He will have to fight for a spot in camp, not just because of the Queen signing, but also because the Steelers drafted Payton Wilson in the third round. It is also unclear if Holcomb will be able to return at all from his knee injury. If Holcomb is ready to go, that drops Robinson on the depth chart, and he will once again need to step up on special teams. 

While fans have been less than sold on Robinson, Steelers insider Jim Wexell said that is not the case with the organization. Recently, Wexell appeared on Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Christopher Carter's podcast, Locked on Steelers, and was asked about the defense. Wexell said he is very excited by what he sees from the inside linebackers after the addition of Queen, and part of that is Robinson. 

"They have Payton Wilson, and Elandon Roberts showed me so much last year as a leader, as an enthusiastic guy. Mark Robinson's the same kind of guy. You know how much that team loves Mark Robinson. I don't think fans know that. They just see him as some raw guy that we in the media keep promoting as ready. But the team loves him because of his enthusiasm. So he's your backup run stuffer, Payton Wilson's your backup to Queen in pass coverage."

Coaches and former players have praised Robinson for being quick and decisive. Shazier said that he feels Robinson has a high ceiling. He is a two-down player they can count on to stop the run. They noted that he just needed to have opportunities to continue to grow, and hopefully, he was able to meet that need in 2023. 

Even though Holcomb's future is uncertain, the addition of Queen and with Roberts returning makes the group feel more stable than in prior years. If Robinson has really grown and Wilson shows progress, it is going to be the best inside linebackers room in a long time. 

Steelers' Payton Wilson Is Ready To Contribute

Wilson certainly shows enthusiasm for being in black and gold. During minicamp, he told the media that he is learning so much from working alongside Queen. Wilson, who attending North Carolina State, said he can relate to the blue-collar mentality in Pittsburgh and likes it. 

But he is already thinking beyond Latrobe and even beyond Acrisure Stadium. Wilson said that he is ready to help the Steelers win a Super Bowl. Wilson is joining the highest-paid defense in the league, but for the first time, it feels like that defense could fire on all cylinders. 

What do you think about Robinson? Click to comment below. 

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