Before free agency has even begun, the Steelers are set to lose Elandon Roberts and many other players. As it currently stands, they are actually in a great spot to reap the compensatory benefits next year. In the case of Roberts, though, this seems very much like the Steelers’ choice. They may regret that choice.
Prior to the news of Elandon Roberts agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, news already broke that the Steelers intend to sign Baltimore Ravens ILB Malik Harrison to a two-year, $10 million contract.
Harrison is a hard-nosed, physical player, which appeals to the Steelers—but he’s not Elandon Roberts. And for a Steelers defense that looked soft late in the season and faced accusations of quitting, that’s not a guy you want to take out of the locker room. He may not have always played much, but they played him purposefully when they needed him.
Can Malik Harrison seamlessly step into the role that Roberts served on the Steelers’ defense? They obviously think so, or else it’s hard to come up with an explanation for the move. Harrison is primarily a special teams player, but he has over 1,000 defensive snaps over four years. A former third-round pick, he is a big thumper of a player.
But is he a young Elandon Roberts, as, perhaps, the Steelers seem to think? He is about four years younger at 27 versus soon-to-be 31, but Roberts was still at the top of his game, showing no signs of diminishing play. After all, he didn’t exactly play the most athletic style imaginable.
Now, the Steelers have Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, and even Cole Holcomb, with Malik Harrison on top of that. But none of those players bring the physicality that Elandon Roberts brought. I might be speaking out of turn, but I don’t think any of them offer the same energy and leadership off the field, either.
And Roberts wanted to finish his career with the Steelers. They only had to spend $3 million to make that happen, but they felt $5 million per year for Harrison was better value, apparently. The argument certainly isn’t that Harrison has more long-term upside, because they already have two young starters.
Patrick Queen is still 25 years old despite being in his sixth NFL season coming up. While he was an older rookie, Payton Wilson is a little bit younger, though not by much. Roberts, as mentioned, will turn 31 this year, but did the Steelers think he was winding down?
My concern is that the defense will struggle more to take the necessary step toward physicality and toughness without him. Elandon Roberts was a leader for the Steelers in that regard, both on and off the field. He set the tone not only with his energy off the field, but with his hits on it. No offense to Malik Harrison, but I don’t count on him blowing up pulling linemen the way Roberts did.
