The Steelers’ Offseason Behavior Says It All: ILB Is on the Menu

There is something brewing at the inside linebacker position for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.

At this year's NFL Combine, they held several formal meetings with some of the top players at that position — names that include Georgia's C.J. Allen and Texas' Anthony Hill Jr. In the last few days, they’ve hosted pre‑draft visits with All‑American linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Pittsburgh’s Kyle Louis, and they have a scheduled meeting with LSU’s Harold Perkins.

By all accounts, much of the interior linebacker group from last season is returning, including Cole Holcomb. Yet they’ve been actively flirting with this year’s class, which is admittedly a deep one. So one has to ask: what does that mean for the current players on the roster — if it means anything at all?

You see, that’s where the real intrigue lies. The inside linebacker room isn’t exactly overflowing with long‑term answers, which makes the Steelers’ aggressive interest in this class feel even more intentional.

Patrick Queen is the centerpiece, but even with Omar Khan publicly expressing his desire to keep him, nothing in this league is guaranteed. Depth behind Queen and Payton Wilson is thin, and the organization may be signaling that they’re not content to rely solely on returning players or hope for perfect health. In a class this deep, Pittsburgh might see a chance to secure insurance — or even find a future running mate — before the need becomes urgent.

When viewing it from a distance, the Steelers aren’t just doing their homework — they’re telegraphing interest. Pittsburgh has a long history of using visits and interviews as smoke signals, and right now those signals are flashing bright at inside linebacker. Whether it’s due diligence or genuine intent, the volume of attention they’re giving this class is impossible to ignore.

All signs suggest the Steelers aren’t simply browsing — they’re positioning themselves to strike. Whether it’s to bolster depth, hedge against uncertainty, find a long‑term partner for Queen, or even move on from him, their actions point toward a team that sees opportunity in this linebacker class and doesn’t want to let it pass by. If their offseason behavior is any indication, Pittsburgh is preparing to make a move at inside linebacker, and the only real question left is how early they’re willing to pull the trigger.