The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team in need of help at linebacker. This means inside and outside. But what if they could get both in the same player? And what if that player didn’t cost a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft? This is what Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. brings to the table as a pro and should be a player squarely on the Steelers radar.
Pace’s draft stock is a mixed bag based on things he can control and some he cannot. The size issue is there. At the scouting combine, Pace checked in at 5-foot-10 and 1/2 which is going to automatically scare some teams off. But when you review the film, there are very few instances where Pace’s lack of height was a concern.
In terms of what he brings to the table for the Steelers, there are really two things that stand out. First is scheme versatility and his ability to be productive from multiple spots on defense. In 2022, Pace had a remarkable season for the Bearcats with 137 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 10.0 sacks. He lined up inside and outside and the coaches had the confidence to put him in a variety of situations knowing he would have success. Keep in mind this was his first and only season in the Bearcats defense after transferring from Miami (OH).
Secondly, Pace brings a strong understanding of what he’s capable of. When I go back and watch Devin Bush play during his time with Pittsburgh, it really felt like Bush wasn’t sure when to hit the gas and when to pump the breaks. When to trust his athleticism and if he didn’t, what could he do? There’s none of that with Pace. He’s very cognizant of his skill set, confident in himself and understands what he must do in any given situation.
Pace’s draft projection is all over the place. If he is on the board in the fourth round, Pittsburgh cannot pass on him. If they think he can be an inside/outside player who can rush the passer, drop into coverage and chase the run, taking him in the third wouldn’t be out of place. But in the right system, Pace has all the markings of a 10-year pro who just never lets his defense down.
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