Steelers Tabbed as Landing Spot for High Potential Linebacker
The Steelers signed Markus Golden but could still use help at inside linebacker, and now they have been tabbed as a top landing spot for someone who is reportedly on the trading block.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons has been subject to trade rumors all spring, and Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey believes that Pittsburgh should be a team that takes the ‘high risk’ on Simmons to help shore up the inside linebacker room in 2023.
“Pittsburgh could take a flier on the 24-year-old linebacker in a trade that should not cost much because of his impending free agency,” Tansey wrote. “The Steelers could lose Alex Highsmith in free agency next offseason, so this would be a move to see what Simmons can do before signing him to a new contract, one that may be cheaper than a Highsmith extension. A potential Simmons deal would be a low-risk, high-reward move for the Steelers. If he does not star in 2023, they could let him walk and only burn a Day 3 draft pick in the process.”
Granted, the reasoning Tansey gives is not correct, as Simmons would have little effect on Alex Highsmith. However, he does make sense as a high-upside flier in the inside linebacker room. Simmons has elite athleticism and has done just about everything at every position. But the team has yet to find a true fit for Simmons and has stunted his development at a few levels at this point.
So, maybe the team could look to delve into what Simmons brings to the table. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Simmons could be a quality player if used right, and Minkah Fitzpatrick had many of the same questions when he came over before sticking at just free safety. Regardless, something does need to be done at inside linebacker for the Steelers, whether that is Simmons or someone else.
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