The Steelers needed to address linebacker in free agency, and started off by adding Cole Holcomb on a three-year deal. But, Omar Khan isn't done making changes to the position.
The Steelers are signing former Dolphins and Patriots linebacker Elandon Roberts to a two-year deal. The financial details have not yet been reported. In addition, the Steelers announced Thursday they cut Myles Jack, which clears $8 million in salary cap space.
The Steelers officially announced the Roberts signing on Friday.
Roberts, 28, played his college football at the University of Houston and was selected in the sixth round by the Patriots in the 2016 NFL Draft. In his seven year career, Roberts has established himself as a stout run defender and has really developed as a pass rusher. Last season with Miami, Roberts racked up 107 tackles and recorded 4.5 sacks.
The drawback on Roberts is his inconsistency in coverage, where he is considered to be a liability. However, Roberts was a team captain in Miami and was well-liked and highly respected by his teammates. Along with Holcomb, the Steelers have added two linebackers that have experience in leading a locker room.
With the current options at linebacker, the starters would be Holcomb and Roberts with Mark Robinson as the third option. The linebacker room has undergone a complete shakeup with Jack being cut, as well as Robert Spillane signing a two-year contract with the Raiders and Devin Bush agreeing to a one-year deal with Seattle Friday morning.
Jack wasn't a liability in terms of his performance, but struggled with staying healthy in his one season in Pittsburgh. He dealt with numerous lower-body injuries, including a Grade 3 tear in his groin that he suffered in Week 14 and struggled to play through down the stretch. Jack was a cap casualty candidate from the very beginning of the offseason as he was set to carry an $11.25-million cap hit, which is simply too much given the risk.
It is not yet known if the Steelers will be reaching out to Jack to come back on a cheaper deal.
Between the Steelers cutting Jack and restructuring Minkah Fitzpatrick's contract Thursday morning, Khan has cleared more than $18 million in cap space on top of the $11 million that was there prior to the start of the new league year. That $29 million in cap space will be more than enough to squeeze in the signings of Patrick Peterson, Nate Herbig, Damontae Kazee, Larry Ogunjobi, Holcomb and Roberts.
The Steelers made the Peterson, Herbig and Holcomb signings official on Thursday, then announced the Ogunjobi signing on Friday. Only Kazee is left to be announced.
In outside linebacker news, the Titans have officially cut Bud Dupree. As Dejan Kovacevic previously reported, the Steelers are interested in a reunion. It's all about his health and how open Dupree would be to playing behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
