3 linebackers Steelers should aggressively pursue in free agency
By Tommy Jaggi
The Pittsburgh Steelers need lots of help at the linebacker position and these three players would be a perfect fit in free agency this offseason.
Who would have guessed the Pittsburgh Steelers would have gotten such bad play from their off-ball linebackers in 2021. After Devin Bush made a full recovery from the ACL tear he suffered in Week 5 of the 2020 season, the Steelers traded for former Pro Bowl linebacker Joe Schobert during the preseason this past year.
Sadly, their efforts to string together a quality group of linebackers were to no avail. As a unit, Pittsburgh’s linebackers were among the worst in the league as they struggled to contain the pass and were steamrolled by the running game.
Spending elite draft capital is an option to help fill this void, but the Steelers already went that route a few years ago, and the team has many other pressing needs to address. Here are three free-agent linebackers Pittsburgh must aggressively pursue in free agency. (Note: projected contract details courtesy of Pro Football Focus):
Leighton Vander Esch
Age: 25.9
Projected Contract: 3-years, $8.5M/year
Most fans are familiar with this player already, as Leighton Vander Esch was a player the Steelers had their eye on in the 2018 NFL Draft. The former Boise State linebacker was selected 19th overall by the Dallas Cowboys, and there were reports that Pittsburgh was trying to move up to draft him.
Vander Esch has been up and down in his career, and his best season came during his rookie year. While recurring kneck injuries are a concern, Vander Esch is a solid football player when healthy and he has the ability to be a three-down linebacker who can blitz and stop the run.
At 6’4” and 256 pounds, Vander Esch sacrifices some lateral mobility due to his massive frame, but he helps make up for it with stopping power and the ability to go downhill. He also has tons of experience dropping back in zone coverage. He could be the replacement for Vince Williams that Joe Schobert was meant to be.