Steelers' College Coaching Hire Could Give Pittsburgh Private Info On Fascinating Defensive Prospect

The Pittsburgh Steelers have many choices to make ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. They have many positions of need, including quarterback, cornerback, and inside linebacker, among others. The Steelers' picks always have many implications on what the future of the franchise could look like. The Steelers hold several selections, and there has been a lot of speculation on what the Steelers will decide to do with them. However, a recent coaching hire could have a major influence on who the Steelers decide to select in this year's draft. 

The Steelers recently hired CJ Ah You as their outside linebackers coach. Ah You held the same position at Texas Tech, where he helped develop some of the best college edge rushers and linebackers in the nation. Ah You is a former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams, and transitioned to coaching in 2015, where he has remained in college. 

He served with some of the nation's top programs, like Oklahoma and USC, as a special teams quality control coach and defensive line coach, respectively. Ah You's insight could prove valuable in determining who the Steelers will select in the draft. A prospect that makes a ton of sense is linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. 

Rodriguez filled up the stat sheet during his four seasons at Texas Tech. He tallied 317 tackles, 25.5 TFL, six sacks, and forced 13 fumbles. Rodriguez won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was an unanimous All-American. Ah You's familiarity with Rodriguez, and his potential intel, could influence the Steelers in taking the stud linebacker. The Steelers will look long and hard at drafting Rodriguez as there are some question marks at the inside linebacker position. 

The Steelers could see Rodriguez fall to them on day two as the linebacker is projected to be a second or third-round pick. The Steelers have three third-round picks; don't be surprised if they use one to trade up in the second round if they need to get Rodriguez. 

Steelers Really Need To Address Their Linebackers' Room

The Steelers head into the offseason with some potential uncertainty with their linebackers. The Steelers have a young star in Payton Wilson, and he will likely be a mainstay for the Steelers. Wilson is quick and great in pass coverage. However, there is some doubt surrounding Patrick Queen. Queen had an up-and-down year and left Steelers fans with a bad taste in their mouths. Queen has not lived up to the hype he got ahead of his tenure with the Steelers. 

Queen is a potential trade candidate as the Steelers may look to move in a different direction with their linebackers. Another linebacker for the Steelers that could be gone is Cole Holcomb. Holcomb is a free agent, and the Steelers might want to just let him test the market, as the linebacker has been injury-prone and unreliable throughout his time in Pittsburgh. Holcomb had occasional bright spots, but never gave the Steelers the consistency they needed at the position. 

The Steelers will look to free agency and the draft to bolster their linebacking core. Rodriguez would be a premium draft pick for the position and would make an immediate impact. Wilson and Rodriguez would make an amazing tandem, combining speed with sure tackling and high football IQ. However, there are a plethora of impactful linebackers available in free agency, including a former Steeler, Elandon Roberts, and Alex Anzalone. 

No matter what, the Steelers will need to add a linebacker this offseason. By relying on youth, the Steelers will be able to create a linebacking pair that could last multiple seasons, if the decided to draft a linebacker and cut Queen. This option makes the most sense and saves the Steelers a ton of money. 

Should the Steelers draft Rodriguez? Should they sign a linebacker in free agency? Let us know below.

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