It's no secret what the Steelers' biggest need is heading into this offseason.
Team president Art Rooney II made that obvious a few weeks ago when he met with reporters.
"The linebacker position is something I feel like we still need to address. So, it’s a challenge, no doubt about it," Rooney said.
Rooney was talking about the position as a whole, which he should since top backup outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo is an unrestricted free agent and the team would like to work out a deal with Bud Dupree to lower his $9.2-million salary cap hit for 2019. If it can't work out a long-term deal with Dupree or get him to accept a lesser contract, he could be released, meaning the only two remaining outside linebackers on the roster with experience would be T.J. Watt and little-used Ola Adeniyi.
More importantly, though, the Steelers need to upgrade their inside linebacker position, where Vince Williams and 2018 free agent acquisition Jon Bostic were the starters, while L.J. Fort also saw a good amount of playing time.
Bostic was brought in to help try and replace Ryan Shazier, and while he had 73 tackles and 2.5 sacks, he proved to be less than what the team needed in terms of a coverage linebacker. In fact, after the team's 24-17 loss in Denver in Week 11, Bostic played less than 25 percent of the defensive snaps the remainder of the season.
He lost some of those to Fort, who is more athletic and better in coverage. But the 29-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020 and the Steelers would like a younger, better replacement who could be the starter and push Bostic into a backup role befitting his $2.5 million salary cap hit.
The Steelers could wait for the draft to fill their hole at inside linebacker, or they could play it safe and make sure they get an upgrade after getting shut out on the top four prospects at the position in last year's draft. And if they do wind up having to release Dupree, they likely would then add a veteran replacement in free agency.
Here are some candidates to keep an eye on when the free agency period opens March 13.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Jordan Hicks, Eagles: The Eagles are $16 million over the salary cap and need to make some moves to get under. That could keep them from re-signing Hicks, who isn't the household name Baltimore's C.J. Mosley might be, but is a better player, especially in coverage. If you're going to spend $10 million per season, you might as well get the better player. Hicks had 86 tackles, 11 passes defended and five interceptions in 2016, but suffered an Achilles' tendon injury in 2017 that ended his season after just seven games. He returned in 2018 and made 12 starts, missing four games with a calf strain. The injury issues might scare some teams away, but the 27-year-old Hicks' best seasons are ahead of him.
Denzel Perryman, Chargers: Perryman is another player coming off injury. His was an LCL injury suffered in November that ended his season. The good news is that it should be rehabbed fairly early in the offseason process, perhaps early enough for him to check out OK at the start of free agency. In nine games last season, Perryman had 52 tackles and an interception. He's been banged up throughout his career, never appearing in all 16 games in any of his four seasons, but the 26-year-old former second-round pick could be had on a cheaper deal because of those issues.
Kwon Alexander, Buccaneers: Alexander tore his ACL in October, which will make signing him to a free agent deal a bit of a leap of faith. Yes, he should be ready to go by the start of training camp, but that would mean a lot of lost time in preparation in the offseason. The 25-year-old is a prototypical coverage linebacker. At 6-1, 227 pounds, he's nearly identical in size to Shazier and has six career interceptions, including three in 2017. He didn't have any in six games last season -- and to be honest, Tampa Bay's coverage was awful overall -- but he's also forced six career fumbles and recorded 22 passes defended. If his knee checks out OK, he would make a lot of sense for the Steelers.
Anthony Barr, Vikings: Barr is a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker, but might be a bit miscast as an outside linebacker in a 4-3. The former college running back isn't bad in coverage and the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder would give the Steelers one of the biggest linebacking corps in the league. He also would add flexibility as a blitzer from the inside or outside.
K.J. Wright, Seahawks: Like Barr, adding Wright would be a Hail Mary because of his name value. The 2016 Pro Bowl inside linebacker turns 30 in July, so getting a long-term deal out of the Steelers probably isn't in the works. But perhaps a three-year deal gets it done. Wright has been pretty durable throughout his career, but was limited to five games in 2018 because of a knee injury. He did made it back and played for the Seahawks in the postseason, recording eight tackles, a QB hit and an interception in a loss to the Cowboys.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Za'Darius Smith, Ravens: Forget Mosley. If the Steelers are going to target a Ravens linebacker, Smith is the guy to go after if they decide to cut bait with Dupree. Dupree's former teammate at Kentucky had 8.5 sacks in 2018 and has 18.5 in his career. Though that's two fewer than Dupree, the arrow on Smith seems to be pointing up. He's made just 16 career starts but that's largely because he's been stuck behind Terrell Suggs and rotating with Matthew Judon. By signing Smith, the Steelers would force the Ravens to re-sign the soon-to-be 37-year-old Suggs.
Shaq Barrett, Broncos: The Broncos never made Barrett a full-time starter opposite Von Miller and then drafted Bradley Chubb in the first round this year, leaving Barrett as the No. 3 guy. He still had 28 tackles and three sacks in that role in 2018 and has 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles in his four-year career despite limited playing time. Barrett just turned 26 in November, so his best football could still be ahead of him.
Matt Longacre, Rams: Longacre obviously isn't a household name, but in 2017, he had 23 tackles and 5.5 sacks despite making just one start for the Rams. He got seven starts for the NFC champions this season but had just 17 tackles and one sack. He would be added as more of a depth player who could play linebacker or rush end in the nickel and dime.
____________________
Want our latest content at your fingertips? Download the FREE app today:
