Who will be the primary backup at outside linebacker for Steelers?

Anthony Chickillo is no longer with Steelers. Who will be Pittsburgh’s primary backup at outside linebacker in 2020?

The Steelers have always been a team known for their strong history of outside linebackers (or edge defenders, if we are using the more universal, modern-day term for the position). Currently, T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree have established themselves as one of the better pass-rush duos in the league.

But the first outside linebacker off the bench is an important job. Watt and Dupree can’t be counted on to play every snap. Watt played defense 87 percent of the time for the Steelers last season, while Dupree stayed on the field a bit longer (91 percent).  Though both are essentially full-time players, a solid rotational outside linebacker is needed -especially if one of these guys goes down.

Anthony Chickillo used to be that guy for the Steelers, but he was released in the first wave of cuts this offseason. The former 2015 fifth-round draft choice had earned just 2.0 sacks in his last 40 games in a Steelers uniform and didn’t provide much of a spark off the bench.

Pittsburgh has several candidates to fill that role. Currently on their roster are edge defenders Ola Adeniyi, Alex Highsmith, and Tuzar Skipper. Adeniyi and Skipper are both former undrafted free agents who, remarkably, played opposite of each other at Toledo (of all schools).

While many are automatically assuming that Highsmith, the Steeler’s third-round draft choice this year, will be the next man up to fill Chickillo’s former role as the primary rotational edge defender, I wouldn’t be too quick to jump to conclusions.

Ola Adeniyi is a player I think the Steelers really like. He was thoroughly impressive in his first preseason in 2018 but dealt with injuries during the preseason last year. During his first real action during the regular season in 2019, Adeniyi forced 2 fumbles on special teams in limited action. In addition to this, Adeniyi is just 22 years old despite entering his third NFL season. Remarkably, Ola is a few months younger than Highsmith.

While this job could be Highsmith’s to win eventually, it’s not something he’s going to be handed out of the gate. Highsmith has a steep learning curve ahead of him with a massive jump in competition. Though he has a lot of the pass rush moves and bend that drew Pittsburgh to him, he will need time in an NFL weight program to max out his frame.

Meanwhile, Skipper could be on the roster bubble for the Steelers and certainly isn’t guaranteed to make the team. Despite a dominant preseason performance last year, he was cut by both the Steelers and the Giants in 2019. If history repeats itself, Pittsburgh may only keep 4 outside linebackers again in 2020.

A lot of fans have high hopes for Alex Highsmith and are even wishful that he could be the starter across from T.J. Watt after this season if Dupree does not return. However, I really think that Ola Adeniyi will be the first man up in the outside linebacker rotation this year.