Steelers Host Three Inside Linebackers for Tryouts Friday

The Steelers hosted inside linebackers Dorian O’Daniel, Marquel Lee, and Joel Iyiegbuniwe for tryouts on Friday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

The tryouts of three inside linebackers come out of nowhere after the Steelers escaped Cleveland with the only injury to cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. Still, the Steelers want to beef up their inside linebacker corps after running a three linebacker set against the Browns.

O’Daniel was the third round pick for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2018 NFL Draft. After his time at Clemson, O’Daniel would stay with the Chiefs from 2018 through 2021 before failing to find a team to land with during the 2022 free agency cycle. In his career, he has racked up 58 tackles, a sack, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery.

Lee played his college football with Wake Forest and was the fifth-round pick for the Oakland Raiders in the 2017 NFL Draft. He stayed with the Raiders through the 2019 season. Lee missed the entire 2020 season, but resurfaced in 2021 with the Buffalo Bills before heading back to the Raiders. In 2022, he returned to Buffalo, but was released in August. In his career, Leee has 115 tackles and 5 pass deflections.

Iyiegbuniwe spent his college days with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and was the fourth-round pick for the Chicago Bears in the 2018 NFL Draft. He would spend the next four seasons with Chicago, and latched on with the Seattle Seahawks during free agency. But he was released prior to the start of the 2022 NFL season. Iyiegbuniwe has registered 29 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection in his career.