Steelers 2020 draft plans: What positions will be targeted?

The Steelers may want to add depth to the linebacker corps in the third round of the draft

For a defense whose base is a 3-4, having athletic linebackers who are good both against the run and against the pass would be ideal.  I don’t know if Logan Wilson, LB from Wyoming, would fit the bill, so to speak, but it might be worth our third-round pick to find that out.

Wilson has good size at 6′ 2″ and 241 lbs, but his speed leaves a bit to be desired.  Wilson ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.  I don’t think this time is particularly slow, but there are other linebackers out there who had a better 40-yard dash time.

Shaun Bradley, a linebacker from Temple University, my alma mater, ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash.  Obviously, that is a faster time than Wilson’s (time), but who would be a better fit for the Steelers defense?

Wilson is slightly taller than Bradley; they are essentially the same weight, but Bradley is faster.  Wilson did 21 reps at 225 lbs; Bradley did 14 reps.  Regardless of who the pick is in the third round, I think the Steelers need to fortify the linebacker ranks.

Personally, I see both Wilson and Bradley playing inside.  Bradley may even be able to play the ‘sub-LB’ spot solely because of his speed.   How many LBs do we have on our roster who ran a 4.5- second 40-yard dash?

Both Wilson and Bradley may be available in the third or neither of them may be available in the third round.  It remains to be seen who is available.  Regardless of who is available, I see us drafting a linebacker who can play inside or outside and who can cover.

Let’s see what position the Steelers may target in the fourth round.