The Steelers’ offseason work has already started to sort out the linebacker picture, and one name looks increasingly vulnerable: Malik Harrison.
As the depth chart shifts, Harrison has been bumped aside by Cole Holcomb on defense and by Carson Bruener on special teams. Pittsburgh could choose to keep just four linebackers, but the team has long placed a premium on depth at the spot. That makes the latest reunion with Elandon Roberts worth watching.
With Harrison sliding toward the edge of the roster, bringing Roberts back starts to look like a clean solution for the Steelers.
Roberts spent two seasons in Pittsburgh and gave the team exactly the kind of rugged, limited-profile linebacker work they needed. He wasn’t brought in to be a full-time starter, but injuries and uneven play pushed him onto the field, and once he got there, he became tough to remove.
At this stage of his career, Roberts is a very specific player. He stops the run, brings physicality, and can be a liability in coverage. The Steelers wouldn’t want him soaking up heavy defensive snaps, but as a backup plan, he makes sense.
He already knows the organization from his previous stint in Pittsburgh, and he started last year in Patrick Graham’s defense, so there wouldn’t be much of a learning curve if he joined midway through camp. On a low-cost deal, he could serve as the fourth linebacker and also provide special teams help if needed.
That matters because Harrison didn’t do enough last season to hold onto either his defensive or special teams role. Moving on from him is a logical step. Bruener deserves a chance to show what he can do on defense, but he would be one injury away from being forced into a much bigger job.
Roberts helps reduce that danger. The Steelers know what he brings, and while he’s not a flashy option, he won’t hurt them against the run.
There’s no need to hurry him into a major role. Giving Bruener a real preseason audition makes sense. But if Bruener doesn’t look ready and Roberts has lost a step since his tender in Pittsburgh, then keeping the veteran on the final roster becomes less appealing.
If the Steelers aren’t comfortable with Bruener handling defensive snaps, swapping Harrison for Roberts should be near the top of the list.
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