4 moves that would turn Steelers' inside linebacker unit into one of the NFL's best

Recent news out of Pittsburgh is that the Steelers have named Aaron Curry as their new linebackers coach, replacing the departed Brian Flores. Curry will have his work cut out for him, as the one-time Butkus Award winner and first-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks inherits an off-ball linebacker group in flux.

Starters Devin Bush and Myles Jack didn’t provide the splash plays the Steelers need from their inside linebacker corps, and for that matter, neither did super-sub Robert Spillane in 2022. Both Bush and Spillane are now unrestricted free agents and Pittsburgh will likely look elsewhere to replace them. Jack could also be a salary cap casualty in the offseason.

So, the Steelers could need to replace three of its top four inside linebackers in 2023, with the raw Mark Robinson possibly being the only holdover. Robinson played in just four games last season as a rookie, making two starts late in the year and producing nine total tackles (three solo). 

The Ole Miss product, who played running back before switching to linebacker in his final season with the Rebels, proved he has great potential after being drafted in the seventh round last April. He fits the Steelers’ linebacker culture well. While Robinson’s somewhat small (5-11, 235), he’s a heavy hitter who likes to play downhill and reminds me of a young James Harrison who plays inside.

But Curry and the Steelers can’t possibly be thinking Robinson’s going to step in as a full-time starter next season. So, where do they go from here knowing that? Here are four moves the Steelers could make that would turn an average inside linebacker unit into one of the best in the NFL.