Pittsburgh Steelers could have one final free agent option at inside linebacker
Inside linebacker has yet to be answered for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but there is one final veteran free agent that could fill the role.
After signing Derrick Johnson, the Oakland Raiders have moved on from their, one time, All-Pro middle linebacker, NaVorro Bowman. Despite offseason talks of a new deal, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement, and ultimately, Bowman found his way out of town for an older veteran.
An interesting scenario for a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers who recently added a few million dollars to their cap space. Releasing J.J. Wilcox only a day after the NFL Draft, Pittsburgh has roughly $6 million in free money left to spend.
They also have an unresolved issue at inside linebacker. While Jon Bostic was a major offseason signing to fill the void, he only offers one side of the position. A strong run stuffer with little to no coverage game, Bostic isn’t the only player this team wants at the position.
Leaving an opening for Bowman. $6 million won’t sign him long-term, but at 30 years-old, the Steelers may only want a bridge player until the next NFL Draft. One-year, somewhere near $5 million will make Bowman a happy man, and add another star to the linebacking core.
Bowman could solve the last remaining issue on this defense. He isn’t a long-term solution, but he adds the element of Ryan Shazier without having Ryan Shazier. He’s able to command a defense and be the leader who’s calling plays. He’s inteligent enough to understand all the defensive assignments, something Vince Williams struggled with last season.
Bowman isn’t coming to Pittsburgh as a Pro Bowler. His peak is behind him, but his intelligence and playmaking are not. He can still find the ball carrier and drop back in coverage. Splitting time with Bostic, he’d take on a workload catered to his age, which would allow him to maintain a high level of play throughout the season.
He makes sense. He doesn’t fit the young and athletic roster the Steelers have been building, but he adds leadership that they need. He’d make T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree better, and take over the part of the defense Williams wasn’t great at.
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Bowman and Bostic in the middle would work. They’d be the new guys splitting time and not forcing Pittsburgh to make Terrell Edmunds or Marcus Allen a linebacker. He fills the last void on this defense, and Pittsburgh should consider reaching out.