Steelers need a complete overhaul of the linebacker position in 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers might have the worst off-ball linebacker corps in the NFL, and a complete overhaul of the position is essential for real change to occur. 

For a team that was the epitome of mediocrity in 2022, I’m getting really tired of the narrative that the Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of talent across the board. Too many in the media are quick to brush off their shortcomings and act like this team is in a position to compete for a Super Bowl after a somewhat misleading late-season run against an easy schedule.

While the Steelers do have some absolute studs in players like T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Heyward, their weaknesses are as bad as it gets compared to other teams across the league. One of their biggest weaknesses entering the 2023 offseason happens to be the linebacker position.

There’s a very strong case to be made that Pittsburgh had the worst off-ball linebacker corps in the NFL during the 2022 season. The collection of Myles Jack, Devin Bush, and Robert Spillane proved to be detrimental in pass coverage while too often getting swallowed up against the run.

Additionally, the lack of big plays from this unit was an Achilles heel on defense. Myles Jack, for example, didn’t record a single takeaway-worthy play all year — a trend that sadly dates back until the 2020 season when he was on the Jacksonville Jaguars, per ESPN stats.

Bush and Spillane were no better as both linebackers graded out among the worst in the NFL at their position and proved to be liabilities on defense.

Doing the same things over the following year and expecting different results is the definition of insanity, and I think the Pittsburgh Steelers need to completely overhaul the linebacker position.

Steelers must overhaul linebacker position

This unit is going to look different in 2023 — there’s no question about that. But will they make enough change? Personally, I’m okay with a nearly full revamp of the position. Devin Bush and Robert Spillane are unrestricted free agents this offseason. Bush will almost certainly be gone after a big demotion late in the season that saw him playing just 5 snaps per game over his final two contests. He will look for a fresh start elsewhere.

Spillane, meanwhile, could return to the team on a cheap deal thanks to his ability to play multiple roles and earn a hat on special teams. However, he should be viewed as a player who the team really doesn’t want seeing the field much at all next season.

Veteran Myles Jack is still under contract, but the underwhelming linebacker has an absurd cap number of $11.25 million for the 2023 season, according to Over the Cap, and it’s impossible for the Steelers to consider keeping him at this price. Releasing Jack would result in an $8 million cap savings — money that can be thrown back into a linebacker in free agency.

Special teamer Marcus Allen is also a free agent this year. While he serves an important special teams role as the up-back on punt coverage, he’s not irreplaceable. Mark Robinson is the only player under contract at the position who should return, in hopes that he can develop into a quality special teamer and maybe carve out a significant role on defense somewhere down the line.

To fill this major need, the Steelers can look to a quality group of linebackers in free agency. There are some good football players at each price tier that Pittsburgh can throw money at who would be improvements over any linebacker they have. This ranges from players like Leighton Vander Esch to T.J. Edwards to Tremaine Edmunds. It’s a strong LB group in free agency this year.

In addition to finding a starter in free agency, the Steelers could look for a linebacker on day two of the 2023 NFL Draft. This is typically the sweet spot to draft the position, and there is projected to be a number of strong second and third-round linebacker prospects this year.

One thing the Steelers simply cannot do is run it back with the same group. If it were up to me, I would overhaul this unit and opt for real change and improvement at the position during the 2023 offseason.