The Steelers lost Cole Holcomb to a grueling leg injury in their Thursday night victory over the Titans. It was a hard play to watch, and while it hasn’t been made official yet, Holcomb will likely miss the remainder of the season. This is unfortunate, as he was actually playing pretty well for this team.
The linebacker room was a focus of the team this offseason, essentially leveling the position and starting from new. While the moves on paper didn’t seem like huge deals, this group has been performing well this season. The team will need to figure out a contingency plan with Holcomb now out. Here are four free-agent linebackers the Steelers can sign to replace Holcomb.
The Steelers should start inhouse first
Let me make this clear upfront: the Steelers will almost certainly use their current options to replace Holcomb this year. It would be hard for a veteran to come in now and take over the defense from the shoot.
Kwon Alexander should be pegged as his primary replacement. Mark Robinson should also see an expanded role on defense as well. Once Minkah Fitzpatrick is healthy, he can allow Keanu Neal to shift into a hybrid linebacker role if need be.
A veteran should be added to keep the depth here strong. That said, they may not make it on the field right away. Again, Holcomb will be replaced by Alexander more than likely. That said, this team needs to still fill out their depth chart to make sure they are prepared for another injury.
The Steelers could sign Nate Gerry
Considering the season is halfway over, the NFL isn’t filled with high-quality talent sitting on the sidelines. Most players have found a home on a practice squad or roster by now, so the options have thinned out. Again, it is a good thing that the Steelers have some depth on their roster at linebacker.
With Holcomb having been the every-down linebacker, it would be ideal to land a player with some coverage ability in case it is needed. Nate Gerry isn’t the best linebacker to ever see the field, but he is a former safety and can hold his own in that regard. He was a starter with the Eagles in 2019 and 2020, so he has experience as well.
Gerry is also an avid special teams player, having been a core member of that unit even when he was a starter. While experience is a good thing, the play hasn’t been as promising. While a former safety, Gerry isn’t great in coverage nor is he a great athlete. He knows the role and can fill in, but counting on him for more than that is a mistake.
He is my least favorite name on this list for those reasons. Again, to fill out the depth chart and provide this team an emergency option though, you could do worse than Gerry. He has a lot of experience and can cover in a pinch. His special teams value can also keep him active even if not in a starting role.
The Steelers could bring back Nick Kwiatoski
Nick Kwiatoski is in a similar position as Gerry is, minus the former safety trait that Gerry has. Despite being a less-than-stellar player, Kwiatoski has a lot of experience as a starter on defense. He was a situational starter for most of his time in Chicago, and got his shot to be the top guy in Vegas, before reversing back to just a special teams player in Atlanta.
The Steelers should be familiar with Kwiatoski, as they signed him to their offseason roster. He didn’t perform poorly either, but ultimately lost his spot in a deep room. Still a free agent, Kwiatoski would provide another capable body to the linebacker room for this defense.
Like Gerry, Kwiatoski should be primarily expected to pick up some special teams work. He has excelled there as a pro, and while his starting days are waning, he can still cover punts and kicks well. He can contribute on defense if needed, but that shouldn’t be the expectation. Kwiatoski is a very limited defender.
While not a top name on this list, and for good reason, I think Kwiatoski has the best odds of being added. He should know the defense well enough given his stint here in the summer, so there won’t be a learning curve. He adds depth and can play on special teams if not needed on defense.
The Steelers could poach Rashaan Evans
The final two names on this list are ones that people have likely heard of. Rashaan Evans is a former first-round pick and has been a starter for most of his time in the league. The Steelers certainly had a draft crush on Evans, and they reportedly tried to trade up and draft him on draft night.
His career hasn’t been as good as his draft billing was. While a starter with the Titans, he never developed into more than an average starter. He took his talents to Atlanta a year ago, and while he was the primary starter and logged 159 tackles, he struggled to find work this season. He has landed on the Cowboys practice squad.
This is partially due to his limitations as a coverage player. While he can log snaps on defense, he isn’t a great option to pick up running backs in coverage. He is even worse when asked to match up against tight ends. Bringing him in doesn’t solve the dime role for Pittsburgh.
What he provides is a very experienced player who can contribute on defense in a pinch. You could work him into some run packages if you want, or just keep him around in case another injury pops up. The team built their linebacker room around run-stoppers this offseason, and they could add another one in Evans.
Steelers could add Cory Littleton
Far and away, this is my favorite option for the Steelers to land to fill out their linebacker room as of this writing. Cory Littleton, at one point in time, was seen as an up-and-coming linebacker in the league. He was a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2018, his first season as a starter, and has been an every-down starter for multiple seasons.
Littleton has some Alexander vibes as a player. He can do a little bit of everything on defense. He is a capable run defender, can hold his own in coverage, and can rush the quarterback. This made him an upstart player early on, but he has regressed as he has gotten older. Not the elite player he was early in his career, Littleton can still be counted on for some defensive snaps.
He filled an Alexander-like role with the Panthers last season before signing with Houston this year. He was just cut and is now on the Saints practice squad. Considering his experience and ability to play all three downs, he has to be a top name to consider for the Steelers defense.
Even better news, Littleton has been a core special teams player in addition to his role as a defender. It doesn’t matter if he is starting on defense or being used as a backup, Littleton has consistently been on coverage units. Add that in with his defensive ability and you have a great fit for a defense that will need some linebacker help.
It was an unfortunate injury for Holcomb against the Titans. From the grueling nature of the leg injury to the impact it has on the team, the Steelers will need to find some type of a replacement. While the in-house options will get the first crack, some free agents should also be considered.