The Steelers linebacker room has been tumultuous ever since since the career-ending injury to Ryan Shazier. The team tried out a whole myriad of veteran options with little success and even tried to land an elite new rookie in Devin Bush to headline the position. Under Omar Khan, this room has been rebuilt entirely, but there are still issues here. Thankfully, the edge rushers have been steady, and the team has only bolstered their depth there in recent years.
Heading into the 2025 offseason, the team has quite a few choices to make as to how they want to address this room. The off-ball linebackers could lose a core piece in free agency, and one of their highly paid options didn’t live up to expectations this year.
One constant I will write in is that I don’t believe Cole Holcomb will be back, as I’m assuming the team will cut him and he will look for work elsewhere. Missing this entire season is tough to look past, and it seems like the room has moved on without him. That being said, here are the six ways the Steelers can build out their linebacker room in 2025.
6. Steelers cut Queen, add a rookie
Despite being one of the highest-paid free agents ever, Patrick Queen has failed to live up to expectations this season. Yes, his play has improved from his early-season struggles, but he hasn’t been the dominant force that you paid him to be. With a large roster bonus due early in the offseason, he could ultimately be a cap casualty.
If he were to get the axe, the worst-case scenario is that the team looks to the draft to replace him. This draft has a few intriguing names, but most will need to develop before they can take on a significant workload at the next level. While Payton Wilson and Elandon Roberts can start, it would take a lot away from a team that has liked to use a three-man rotation. Add in the slew of other needs and it doesn’t make sense to use significant draft capital on the position.
5. Steelers lose Roberts, get a free agent replacement
The other question mark in the linebacker room is Elandon Roberts. He has become a core member of the team and while he is typecasted as a run stuffer only, he has thrived anywhere when called into action. At his age though, the team may want to get younger, and they could opt to look to free agency to replace him.
The issue with this is that finding the right name at the right price is hard to do. Most names either lack the impact that Roberts has or will cost significantly more than he would. For a player that would be third on your depth chart, sometimes it just makes sense to keep a player. At a minimum, subbing out Roberts with another similar free agent makes little sense.
4. Steelers cut Queen, add a free agent linebacker
If the team does cut Queen, finding a viable free agent makes the most sense. You would ideally see Wilson ascend to an every-down player and Roberts can handle some additional work if need be. Add in another versatile and talented veteran and you would have a strong linebacker room. Frankly put, this makes a lot of sense to me given Queen’s struggles and increased cap hit next year.
The issue comes down to who, as the free agent linebacker market isn’t filled with elite options, so you would be banking on Wilson taking that next step. Isaiah Simmons and Kyzir White would be logical options to compliment Roberts's style, or heck, they could reunite with do-it-all option Robert Spillane. Given how weak the market is though, it could force the team's hand into keeping Queen.
3. Steelers lose Roberts, add a rookie to replace him
If the team makes any major changes to their linebacker room, this seems like it would be it. While there is a general feeling that Roberts will be back, that isn’t a sure thing. If he were to sign elsewhere, Pittsburgh would be logical to look toward the draft. You can find stereotypical run-thumpers on day three of the draft.
Naturally, this isn’t a sure thing. Rookies can need time to develop, and taking a run-focused linebacker typically means they have a low ceiling. If the focus is on youth and replacing Roberts though, that is the best option. That said, Roberts has proven to be a capable option, and there is no guarantee that a rookie can emulate that right away, so this doesn’t seem like the most realistic option.
2. Steelers add a veteran edge rusher
Am I talking about a fourth-string edge rusher this high up on the list? You better believe it. The Steelers have one of the best trio of pass rushers in the league, and they have relied on that depth quite often this year. That said, Jeremiah Moon looked ineffective on defense, and this team has benefited from being four deep at edge rusher.
A veteran who has experience on defense as well as playing on special teams makes a lot of sense. There are a few names that fit those qualifications, and none of them should cost a lot of money. This keeps the team four deep at pass rusher and still provides a capable special teams option for the unit.
1. Steelers keep the room as is
Of all of the positional groups, the linebacker room appears to be the strongest and deepest unit on the field. As already discussed, the edge rushers are three deep, and while they could use a capable fourth option, that shouldn’t cost much. While Queen has proven to be inconsistent, the team will likely give him another year to prove himself. Roberts, meanwhile, has expressed a desire to stay in Pittsburgh, so a new deal there should be expected.
Even the depth options have proven to be viable. While Moon was mediocre on defense, he has been a constant on special teams. Mark Robinson’s shot at becoming a defensive piece has sailed, but he has proven to be a great special teams enforcer. There could be some shuffling on the back end, and a veteran edge makes a lot of sense, but at the end of this day, this group should look similar to how it did this year.