After not addressing outside linebacker in the first wave of free agency and not really adding anyone via the 2023 NFL draft, patience paid off for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last week the Steelers were able to add veteran pass rusher Markus Golden to be the team’s third edge rusher and rotational guy.
Golden spoke to the media for the first time as a member of the Steelers and seems to have a clear understanding of what his role is on the defense and if fully accepting of it.
“Whatever coach wants me to do, I’m going to be ready to come in and hunt and do what the team needs me to do,” Golden said. “I’m all about winning at the end of the day.”
At the same time, Golden has been around long enough to understand how tenuous a starting job can be. So he is making sure to be ready, work hard and give everything he’s got every time his number is called.
“What I’m going to do is go hard every day, come to work every day, learn from these guys. When the time comes, whether I play one play or if I play 30 plays, I’m going to go hard on all those plays.”
It’s great to hear Golden saying all the right things. Pittsburgh hasn’t exactly had success with veterans backing up T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Malik Reed came in last season and was terrible despite a strong resume and before that was the Melvin Ingram debacle.
