The Pittsburgh Steelers are most of the way through the first part of the offseason leading to the draft. Before we get there, we’re going to take stock of how the roster has evolved over the past several weeks. Position by position, we’ll break down who’s coming and going and what’s next for those rookies and those already here.
Position: Inside Linebacker
Total Positional Figure: 6
Offseason Additions: 2
Offseason Deletions: 2
Players Retained:
Patrick Queen: Signed as a free agent last year, Queen had an inconsistent season. He generally trended up, but we didn’t see the impact play that the Steelers surely hoped for. A second season in the system with more stability around him may help him be that difference-maker in 2025.
Payton Wilson: Despite durability concerns, the Steelers took a chance on Wilson’s talent in the third round. He stepped up, making some plays as a rookie, but he still has room to grow. Appearances suggest the team intends to platoon him in Year Two, either with Cole Holcomb or Malik Harrison.
Cole Holcomb: Entering his third season with the Steelers, he hopes for a fully healthy season. Previously signed as a free agent in 2023 as the every-down ‘backer, a severe knee injury in the middle of that season derailed his and the Steelers’ plans. They had to move on, assuming they wouldn’t have him last year, adding Queen and Wilson. Now healthy, the next step is to see how he can play. He should have an opportunity to earn some playing time, pairing with Wilson.
Mark Robinson: A wrecking ball of a player, Mark Robinson has developed into a stout special teamer for the Steelers. However, that appears to be his ceiling, and he is in the final year of his contract. Will that be enough to continue in Pittsburgh beyond his rookie deal?
Players Added:
Malik Harrison: Rather than re-sign Elandon Roberts, the Steelers poached Malik Harrison from the Ravens. He reunites with Patrick Queen, whom Baltimore drafted in the same year. Signed to a two-year, $10 million deal, he will have as big of a role on special teams as on defense. Exactly how much and when he will play defensively may not yet be decided.
Devin Harper: Harper signed with the Steelers to the practice squad at the end of August. He remained there all season and now even has an in. The team’s new linebackers coach, Scotty McCurley, previously worked with him in Dallas.
Players Deleted:
Elandon Roberts: The Steelers, it would appear, chose not to re-sign Roberts, perhaps preferring to go younger. They managed that by signing Malik Harrison, though whether he is an upgrade is in question. Despite being nearly 31, Roberts plans to continue playing. He previously said he wanted to retire a Steeler, but the Steelers had other notions.
Tyler Matakevich: Is this the end of the road for Dirty Red? The Steelers’ special teams ace had two stints with the team, with a long layover in Buffalo. They brought him back last season, but an early injury limited his contributions. Now 32, he’s had a great career and banked good money. A year ago, the Steelers only signed him in mid-July, so there’s still time.
Notes And Draft Outlook:
Unless there’s a true stud that the Steelers would be stupid to pass up, I don’t see them addressing inside linebacker. They already made their move in free agency by adding Harrison, even with the subtraction of Roberts. That may have been more about keeping Holcomb, though, than about Harrison.
The biggest question is how to sort out playing time. Queen should remain the Steelers’ every-down workhorse, but how do they distribute snaps between Wilson, Holcomb, and Harrison? It’s certainly a preferable problem to the ones they had in 2023, trying to find bodies to play.
