Steelers Tabbed as Landing Spot for Free Agent Linebacker

The Steelers have made a lot of additions to their team throughout the offseason and up to this point before training camp. But one concern that seemingly keeps ringing about is the inside linebacker situation. They brought in Kwon Alexander for a visit and inked Nick Kwiatkoski after a minicamp tryout. However, Pro Football Focus believes the Steelers could look to add another inside linebacker.

When looking into the inside linebacker market, Brad Spielberger of PFF concluded that the Steelers could look to add former Titans and Falcons inside linebacker Rashaan Evans as their one move they need to make. It would give them seven inside linebackers in the room overall.

“We haven’t changed our answer here after the Steelers addressed almost every weakness from a starter and depth standpoint throughout this offseason.,” Spielberger wrote. “Another piece at off-ball linebacker is the one final move that makes a lot of sense. 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. Evans is coming off career highs with 1,104 snaps, 46 defensive stops and 110 tackles while missing only 7.3% of opportunities.”

The only question is really where does Evans help the team. Is he a three-down upgrade over Cole Holcomb, who slates to be that guy for the Steelers? Could he be a better run stopper than Elandon Roberts, who will take that BUCK role as the starter? Or maybe, could he solve the dime linebacker question, even though that seemingly is going to be Keanu Neal.

Out of all his PFF grades last year, his coverage grade was the worst, at 55.9 overall. That is an upgrade over Roberts, but a downgrade to Holcomb. Maybe Evans does come to Pittsburgh. They had plenty of interest in him in the NFL Draft process. But it does seem like if they add someone, it would slant closer to a guy who could be an upgrade in coverage, like a Deion Jones or the aforementioned Alexander.