Apr 25, 2017 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Though he’s been evaluating edge rushers for the Steelers since coming to Pittsburgh in 2000, general manager Kevin Colbert still lists it among the most difficult parts of his job as a talent evaluator.

With so many teams now running spread offenses in college, opponents have adjusted by putting lighter defensive ends on the field.

That adds more players with the body type the Steelers look for in their outside linebackers. But it also muddies the water when it comes to determining whether a player is capable of doing things other than rushing the passer, such as setting the edge against the run or dropping into pass coverage.

“We have had some that didn’t work out and some that have worked out,” Colbert said. “We have had some that have played in a conventional defense, played outside linebacker, where some worked out and some didn’t to our expectations.

“I don’t know what the success rate will be. I just know it’s the most difficult. The outside linebackers, you almost have to do double the work. … We are going to have the defensive line coach look at him as well as the outside linebackers coach, the strength coach, as they try to predict growth, look at their body types.”

It’s an inexact science as the Steelers’ selection of Jarvis Jones in the first round of the 2013 draft suggests. The NCAA leader in sacks in 2012, Jones played outside linebacker at Georgia and was considered NFL ready. But injuries early in his career and an overall lack of ability to get to the quarterback in the NFL led the Steelers letting Jones become a free agent.

Jones lost his starting job to 38-year-old James Harrison and signed with Arizona in the offseason.

Harrison will return for his 15th NFL season this year and the Steelers have 2015 first-round draft pick Bud Dupree at the other outside linebacker position. Arthur Moats and Anthony Chickillo return as backups, but the Steelers know they can’t count on Harrison, who turns 39 next week, as a long-term solution.

Pittsburgh also has some depth issues at inside linebacker as longtime starter Lawrence Timmons signed with Miami.

Veteran Vince Williams is expected to step into the vacated starting spot next to Pro Bowl inside linebacker Ryan Shazier, but Pittsburgh’s depth at that position has taken a hit. L.J. Fort, Steven Johnson and Tyler Matakevich are the backup inside linebackers.

Fortunately for the Steelers, this year’s NFL Draft, which begins Thursday and wraps up Saturday, has plenty of solid linebackers. Pittsburgh has eight picks in the seven-round draft, including the 30th selection in the first round and two in the third.

Myles Garrett of Texas A&M is clearly the top player in this draft and is expected to be taken by Cleveland first overall. Also expected to be gone before the Steelers make a pick are Temple’s Haason Reddick, Reuben Foster of Alabama and Derek Barnett of Tennessee.

That could leave the Steelers looking at Charles Harris of Missouri, Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt or Auburn’s Carl Lawson as outside linebackers in the first round. They also could consider Florida’s Jarrad Davis, an inside linebacker.

If the Steelers choose to address another position in the first round, they’ll almost certainly look to the second round for a linebacker. Pittsburgh has shown plenty of interest in Youngstown State’s Derek Rivers, a college defensive end who 38 1/2 career sacks, including 14 last season.

“I’d say one of my strengths, as far as pass rushing goes, is my speed,” said Rivers, who ran a 4.61 40-yard dash while also bench pressing 225 pounds 30 times at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I love speed rushing and something that counters off of it, I have a pretty good power rush as well.”

UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley or Alabama’s Tim Williams also could interest the Steelers in the second round if they’re OK to overlook an injury, in the case of McKinley, or off-field issues with Williams. McKinley had shoulder surgery after the combine but is expected to be ready for training camp. Williams admitted to failed drug tests at Alabama.

In the middle rounds, Carol Phillips of Illinois, Eastern Washington’s Samson Ebukam, Keion Adams of Western Michgan or Vince Beigel of Wisconsin could interst the Steelers.