With Williams announcing his retirement, the Steelers could be on the hunt for another body at inside linebacker.
In a move that came out of nowhere, veteran linebacker Vince Williams decided to retire after an eight-year career with the Steelers. The move was shocking due to him having been cut and then re-signed which made it seem like he would be around for at least one more year.
Now, the Steelers will need a new starter across from Devin Bush. While Robert Spillane and even Buddy Johnson will get a crack at the other starting role, it seemed heavily implied that there would be a rotation there, which means the team may still want a veteran to come in and compete. With all that said, here are five free agents the Steelers could sign to replace Williams:
Steelers could sign Davis
One of the most logical names on the free-agent market is veteran linebacker, Todd Davis. He is a player in the same mold as Williams, as he lacks the athleticism and coverage skills to be a dynamic every-down starter, but he is a solid run defender that can chip in on special teams. He could be had for the minimum as well, meaning he wouldn’t spend any of the Steelers’ preciously thin salary cap.
Now, Davis wouldn’t move the needle much in terms of starting. While he could rotate in with Spillane in base defense, he wouldn’t see many snaps beyond that assuming everyone stayed healthy. He would be solid and cheap depth though, as well as a player that could still contribute on special teams some despite his age. It wouldn’t be a roster-shattering move, but it would be a cheap way to keep the depth of this group strong.
Steelers could sign Onwuasor
If Davis doesn’t give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, you could get a slightly younger and equally deficient in pass coverage linebacker in Patrick Onwuasor. The former Raven and Jet (barely) finds himself as a free agent despite being a solid run stopper at the age of 29. He was set to take on a more prominent role with the Jets last season, but injuries caused him to only play in one game the entire season.
This should keep him cheap though, which aids in the Steelers trying to sign him. He would likely play on the minimum in hopes of establishing his market value. Despite his struggles in coverage, Onwuasor is a decent athlete that can move well in space and stop the run. He would be a capable body who could start on a two-down basis if need be.
Like Davis, Onwuasor would be limited to a mostly reserve role, although he could rotate in for Spillane on base defense if need be. For a cheap contract though, the Steelers could do far worse. Add in his age and athleticism and he would be the better alternative to Davis here (albeit only marginally). He would provide solid depth and would be a good run-stopping presence for the team if he is brought in.
Steelers could re-sign Williamson
Another name that makes a lot of sense given the fact he played for the Steelers last year, Avery Williamson could be on his way back to Pittsburgh. The team traded for Williamson after suffering a rash of injuries at the inside linebacker position. Despite coming over midseason, Williamson appeared in eight total games and started four of them. While his play was far from dynamic, he was a steady presence in the middle of the field.
Williamson would return to the Steelers with some familiarity on defense as well. He should know the playbook pretty well and could slide back into the role he served last year. If he was signed, Spillane would still be the top option not named Bush, but Williamson would be there to push him as well as rotate in to give both of the starters a breather.
Considering he hasn’t been signed yet, his deal should come in rather cheaply. More than likely, he would sign for the minimum. Cheap veteran depth is never a bad thing, and Williamson knows the teams’ defense well enough that he wouldn’t need much of a transition period. At just over 29, he shouldn’t be in line to regress much yet, meaning that he could be an instant depth piece and starter if need be.
Steelers could sign Wright
If the Steelers aren’t comfortable with the thought of Spillane being the uncontested starter, K.J. Wright would make a lot of sense. While an older player (he will be 32 this season), he would be a talented veteran that would pair well with Bush along the interior. Given the team also signed a 32-year old in Melvin Ingram, it shows that the team could be breaking away from them avoiding veteran defenders regularly.
Wright has great size for a linebacker. While his play is starting to decline, he would fit well as a run-stopping linebacker for the team. As well, given the Steelers’ fondness of blitzing their inside linebackers, Wright could use his size to crash the line and get after the quarterback. He could be a versatile chess piece similar to how the team used Williams when lined up next to Bush.
Now, at his age, Wright wouldn’t be counted on to be a complete starter. Instead, he would probably reprise the role that the team was seemingly going to use Williams for. Wright would be the starting linebacker in base defense while Spillane would be the sub-package linebacker in dime and nickel. Wright could come in some then as well if need be, but his coverage is beginning to decline along with his athleticism. His contract may be more expensive than the minimum, but his market value isn’t astronomical either. He would be a good veteran-run-stopping presence for the Steelers.
Steelers could sign Alexander
If the team really wanted to make another late offseason splash, they could go out and sign veteran Kwon Alexander. He is recovering from an achilleas injury but was visiting with the Saints recently, indicating that he could be healing up well enough to get back on the field soon. Injuries in general with Alexander are a concern, but his play when healthy is dominant. He can do anything you need, from stopping the run, to blitzing, to making coverage stops.
If the Steelers signed him, it would give them a potentially dynamic inside linebacking duo when he recovers from his injury. Both he and Bush are great athletes and would function well together. Alexander isn’t old either, as he will only be 27 this upcoming season. If the team isn’t completely set on starting Spillane, Alexander would make the most sense.
Alexander would likely need some time during training camp to continue his injury recovery, so Spillane could serve as the starter for that time. Even if Alexander isn’t ready by Week 1, it would give the Steelers a contingency plan at inside linebacker. Considering his injury history, Alexander could likely b had for the minimum or close to it. He may not be healthy enough by week one, but the moment he could step on the field, it would give the Steelers two of the best inside linebackers in the game.
With Williams officially hanging it up, the Steelers could be in the hunt for a new starting linebacker. While Spillane will likely get the first crack at the job, the team could still use a veteran to better push him. These five free agents could be receiving a call sooner than later as the Steelers look to add to their inside linebacker room for the season.