Last season we all applauded the Pittsburgh Steelers for the moves they made to improve the inside linebacker depth chart. The team added Cole Holcomb, Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts and despite the injury bug mowing through them, this group was better than what we’d seen in several seasons.
But this offseason, with Alexander gone and Holcomb still recovering from injury, the team basically had to start over. The front office made a huge signing with Patrick Queen coming over from the Baltimore Ravens and then drafted Payton Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Pro Football Focus ranked the linebacker units and for the Steelers, they were fair with their ranking of No. 13 in the NFL which worked out to No. 8 in the AFC. Here’s what they had to say about the rankings:
The Steelers made a splash at the linebacker position this offseason by bringing in Patrick Queen from the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Queen has improved every season since entering the league and is coming off a career-high 73.0 PFF grade. He has yet to turn 25 years old, so it’s reasonable to expect that he will continue to get better. Alongside him, Elandon Roberts posted a career-high 72.2 PFF grade on 622 snaps in 2023.
If a few things fall right, this group will end up far outplaying the ranking. Holcomb could still be ready to play this season and he adds significant athleticism and if Wilson is as good as advertised, he might take Roberts’ starting spot next to Queen.
