3 reasons Steelers must sign edge defender Justin Houston

Severe lack of depth at outside linebacker

The Steelers have one of the top defensive players in the business with T.J. Watt, and he has been a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate over each of the past two seasons. Across from him, second-year player Alex Highsmith offers a great amount of intrigue and promise as the future at right outside linebacker, as he exceeded all expectations in 2020.

Unfotuntalty, the depth becomes razor-thin outside of their top two players. Currently, Cassius Marsh and Qunicy Roche are slated to be the top two backups in 2021. This simply is not good enough. As I mentioned, I am a huge Roche fan, and I was baffled as to why he fell all the way to the sixth round this year before the Steelers snatched him up. Still, it would be unwise and unfair of us to expect him to man such a big role as the first outside linebacker in the rotation from the gate.

Marsh, on the other hand, just isn’t a very good football player, and the veteran could easily be replaced at this point. Though it may not take much to kick Marsh out of a roster spot, Pittsburgh could see a serious upgrade with Justin Houston. The athletic pass rusher still has plenty of gas left in the tank, and he would have a chance to make this unit even better than it was in 2020. Houston’s experience would make him a perfect rotational edge defender who could spell both Watt and Highsmith of snaps next year.