Steelers Linked to Free Agent Inside Linebacker

Omar Khan and company used the initial stage of free agency and the draft to fill the Steelers’ major needs but there are still quality players that could be worth exploring.

Pro Football Focus’s Brad Spielberger suggested that the Steelers should sign inside linebacker Rashaan Evans who previously played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. The former first-round pick is fresh off of a career year for the Falcons, only a year after leaving Tennessee.  

“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 in 2022,” wrote Spielberger.

The only issue is that the Steelers already addressed the inside linebacker position in free agency with the signings of Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. If Evans were to sign with the Steelers, he would likely serve as a backup or rotational piece, which would not be a bad thing for the Steelers.

“Free agency addition Cole Holcomb is primarily a Mike linebacker but has experience at the Will spot, which is also the situation with Evans, who was taken in the first round in 2018 after a stellar Alabama career generally lining up on the weak side,” wrote Spielberger. 

The Tennessee Titans selected Evans with the 22nd overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft and the Alabama product hit the ground running early in his professional career. After Evans’ impressive rookie season, his production began to slightly decline which resulted in the Titans declining his fifth-year option. 

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s new “fishing pond” might be in Georgia, but his second favorite spot is Alabama. An influx of former Crimson Tide players have donned the black and gold in recent years including Minkah Fitzpatrick, Najee Harris, and Levi Wallace. 

Both Fitzpatrick and Wallace started their professional careers with teams not named the Steelers but ended up in Pittsburgh due to the connection that Tomlin made with them during their time in college. The same could happen to Evans. 

It is unknown if Evans would interested in signing to play in a limited role after his career year in Atlanta but if he were, the Steelers should at least touch base with the 27-year-old.