The Pittsburgh Steelers' front office was clear when it came to the inside linebacker position during the 2024 offseason. Uncertainty has surrounded Cole Holcomb after a brutal knee injury in 2023 and Kwon Alexander was playing on a one-year deal when he tore his Achilles. This specific area of the defense has haunted the organization ever since Ryan Shazier had a heartbreaking career-ending injury in 2017. The franchise drafted Payton Wilson with the 98th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, which signaled a desire to repair a defensive room that hasn't been a strength of the Steelers for nearly a decade.
Despite new additions to the linebackers' core, Elandon Roberts should be a nice complement to the largest free agent signing in Steelers history. Patrick Queen was inked to a three-year, $41 million deal that is expected to solidify the top half of the depth chart. With the big-name players nearly set in stone, it should make one question the future status of 2022 seventh-round pick, Mark Robinson.
The running-back-turned-linebacker has not made too much of an impact on the Pittsburgh defense since his arrival and the selection of Wilson certainly put his job status in question. Even if Robinson was planning on making the squad, a recent rookie release could tempt the Steelers to bring in even more competition for the linebacker entering his third season.
Steele Chambers started 39 games in his final three seasons at Ohio State University. He was a ball-hawking linebacker during that time, intercepting four passes while also having four passes defended to his credit. Chambers was a borderline seventh-rounder, but quickly had mock drafts connecting him to Pittsburgh because of his first name.
The Steelers needed inside linebacker depth entering the 2024 offseason and it's fair to argue that the need for more firepower at the position was satisfied following the big additions of Queen and Wilson. Questions will continue to surround Holcomb and Roberts is only under contract through 2024. Aside from Queen, there aren't too many firm answers for the future. Wilson could prove himself in year one and blossom into a star, but that can't be counted on.
A reporter for the Detroit Lions, Mike Payton, even acknowledged that Chambers being waived was a surprise, but he may have a career elsewhere if another NFL team doesn't pick him up.
Questions remain regarding the full state of Pittsburgh's defense, but the inside linebackers' group seems to be in a much better place than it was entering the 2023 campaign. It's clear that the newly-extended Mike Tomlin and co. had a plan, and now another player could be added to the group.
Steelers Linebackers Entering 2024 With High Expectations
The signing of Queen and selection of Wilson added elements of intrigue to the position. Chambers has a winning pedigree coming from Ohio State and after going undrafted, deserves the chance to prove himself in a professional training camp. Pittsburgh thrives with undrafted free agents and while Chambers already was signed and released, he could be the perfect option to challenge Robinson for the final spot on the depth chart at inside linebacker.
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