Steelers biggest positions of need in the 2020 draft

The Steelers need to look at upgrading the inside linebacker position

For a team that runs a base 3-4 defense, the linebackers are vitally important to the success of the operation, so to speak.  The inside linebackers have to be able to provide run support and have to be able to cover.  That’s just the way it is.

When we signed Mark Barron in free agency in 2019, I was cautiously optimistic that he would be the inside linebacker who was both stout against the run and against the pass.  Personally, I don’t think he performed all that well in either facet.

At 30 years of age, I think we need to find a younger replacement for Barron, ideally, someone who can fulfill both roles as described above.  Exactly in what round the Steelers find a potential replacement remains to be seen.

I would not be opposed to us drafting the best inside linebacker available in the second round if that what it takes to assure that the Steelers defense continues to perform at an exceptional level.

Another position on the defensive side of the ball the Steelers could target is the ‘D’ line.  As with the linebacker position, the ‘D’ line in base 3-4 is mission-critical, so to speak.  When the Steelers go to a ‘sub-package’ formation, two defensive linemen are typically deployed in that package.

What that means is this: those two linemen must be able to ‘hold their own’ and/or beat a ‘one-on-one’ block.  Depth at the ‘D’ line position is critical to the success of the defense; a defense that carried the Steelers in 2019.

The Steelers will look to improve upon an 8-8 2019 season by retooling in the 2020 draft

So what position will the Steelers draft with our first selection in the 2019 draft?  I have no idea.  What I do have an idea about is what positions are positions of need.  As we discussed, I believe we need to address several positions, the most important being the running back position.

However the 2020 draft shakes out, one thing is absolutely vital:  the Steelers can not miss on our first or any draft pick, for that matter, if we want to be talking about a possible playoff run in 2020.  I don’t know about you but I would much rather be writing about and reading about a trip to the Super Bowl as opposed to a trip down ‘woe is me’ lane.