The Steelers have put a high value on the outside linebacker position since they became a 3-4 defense. Let’s take a look at who they have.
Locks to make the roster
TJ Watt is becoming the player that the Steelers thought he could be. He came out of Wisconsin with the natural ability to stop the run and play in coverage. Now he is capable of getting after the quarterback. He had 13 sacks which is significant for a Steelers outside linebacker. Before the Steelers drafted TJ Watt, they had trouble getting sacks from their outside linebackers. TJ Watt is entering his third year and if he keeps up with his career trajectory in 2019, the Steelers will pick up his fifth year option.
Bud Dupree will play this year on his fifth-year option. He is probably the most overpaid player on the Steelers as he is set to make 9.232 million. The reason he is going to make so much is that he was a first round pick and the Steelers picked up his fifth-year option. I personally think that was too much money for Bud Dupree as he is a below-average starting outside linebacker. He will be the right outside linebacker this year to start.
Anthony Chickillo is a nice player to have on your team. He is a good special teams player and he is a decent backup outside linebacker. He did get a big contract this offseason for a backup. He will make just under two-million in 2019 but in the second-year of his two-year deal, he will make north of six million. This indicates to me that if Bud Dupree leaves, the Steelers are willing to give Chickillo a shot at the right outside linebacker job. He does have a heavy base salary though; so, it’s possible he gets cut too if they find a replacement.
On the inside looking out
Olasunkanmi Adeniyi is the favorite to be the fourth outside linebacker on the roster. He was productive last preseason and that is why he made the roster after being put on injured reserve. He is a player they brought back off injured reserve because he has potential as a pass rusher. I would like to see him round out his game better this preseason by improving at stopping the run, playing coverage and being a contributor on special teams. But if you can rush the passer in the NFL, you will get paid.
On the outside looking in
J.T. Jones is a player to keep an eye on this preseason. His strong suit is getting penetration on the line of scrimmage as he was a monster pass rusher in the MAC. He has the potential to be a Olasunkanmi Adeniyi in the NFL. It is also the person he is battling with to make the roster. He was an undrafted free agent in 2017 to the Atlanta Falcons and played on the practice squad in 2017. He also played in the AAF in 2019; so, there is a chance for him to redeem himself.
Battling for the practice squad
Tuzar Skipper is a relative unknown as he made the team in a tryout. He was Olasunkanmi Adeniyi’s teammate at Toledo; so, that is probably how they found him. His tape doesn’t stand out in any way but he must have shown the Steelers that he is professional enough to hang with them. My guess is that JT Jones is the guy that gets to stay on the practice squad.