Potential Steelers Addition Goes Unclaimed On Waivers And Would Be Extremely Reliable In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are trending upward at the right time, defeating the Miami Dolphins by a score of 28-15 to firmly take the lead in the AFC North and show the rest of the NFL that they are capable of putting together a complete game on both sides of the ball. The Steelers were down 3-0 early on, but by the second quarter, they scored a touchdown right before halftime, taking a lead that they would never relinquish through the rest of the game. Even with the impressive performance the Steelers put up, the team is still looking for ways to improve the roster.

Even with how good the win against the Dolphins looked, the Steelers didn't walk away from the game unscathed. The defense was already without the presence of superstar linebacker TJ Watt, and suffered the loss of linebacker Nick Herbig late in the game itself, leaving the team without many healthy linebackers heading into the pivotal matchup against the Detroit Lions in Week 16. With it being this late in the year, past the NFL trade deadline, the Steelers can't go out and trade for a healthy player from another team, so bringing in help will not be the easiest task to accomplish. However, another option still remains on the table for the Steelers.

Earlier in the week, the Dolphins released linebacker Matthew Judon among other moves to their roster. One of the best landing spots for Judon around the league was predicted to be the Steelers, and some predicted that Judon would be claimed by a team in need of linebacker help. However, earlier today, it was revealed that Judon cleared waivers with no team wanting to put in a claim on him.

Judon being unclaimed by any team means that he is now a free agent, and able to sign with whatever team he wants. With the choice being entirely up to him, it means that if he wanted to play for a team with a chance of contending in the postseason, the Steelers are still a great choice for Judon if he chooses to sign somewhere else to conclude the season.

Even if Judon were to sign with the Steelers, he would be a signing solely to give the Steelers additional depth at the linebacker position, and wouldn't be expected to start if players like Watt and Herbig were both healthy. Through the entire 2025 NFL season, Judon has registered zero sacks and only three quarterback hits with the Dolphins. Judon would not be expected to start unless Watt and Herbig were out for a longer period of time than expected, or if further injuries continue to decimate the linebacker room.

It is currently unknown if Judon would want to go to a team where he has a chance to start immediately and contribute, but his best chance of seeing the field would be with the Steelers. Judon would give the Steelers a viable option in case something happens that prolongs the length of time Watt and/or Herbig are forced to sit out games, and would be a reliable option to rotate onto the field even when Watt and Herbig come back, just to add more unpredictability to the defense. Judon's potential arrival in Pittsburgh would be a great thing in other ways, as well.

Steelers Signing Judon Would Add Veteran Presence To The Locker Room

If Judon were to choose to sign with the Steelers, Judon would add a veteran presence to the locker room that could be used as a source of motivation for the team. Especially with the comments made about the team being a bunch of castoffs or losers still floating around, Judon could use this as motivation for himself and inspire the defense to go out and perform.

What do you think? Should the Steelers sign Judon now that he's a free agent? Let us know in the comments below.

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