If you have watched the Pittsburgh Steelers over the course of time you would notice the Pittsburgh Steelers always find a way to have stud linebackers inside and outside of their defense. If the Steelers lose their key linebackers as they did in 2020 you notice how the team tends to struggle? There is a reason for that. It's because the defense is built around those key linebackers. No matter where you look the middle of the field is extremely important in the NFL. Just look what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did to shut down Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LV. Lavonte David and Devin White are the two best linebacker duos in the NFL.
The question is should the Steelers look to put a top prospect next to Devin Bush? Maybe a Zaven Collins or a Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah? It would not be a bad idea at all, but the Steelers need to fix their offensive line and running back position. It would not be surprising if the Steelers did end up taking a top linebacker in the first 2 rounds of the 2021 NFL draft. It appears they would like to put a top prospect next to Devin Bush going into 2021 by just watching how they're looking at players during their pre-draft process.
Not only do the Steelers need to look for an inside linebacker, but they need to find an outside linebacker later in the draft. The reason I say later is that the Steelers already have two stud outside linebackers (TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith). They need to bring in another young outside linebacker to help give TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith a breather from time to time. That will help TJ Watt keep his energy level up throughout the entire game. The Steelers will need TJ Watt out there for most of the game, but giving him breathers throughout the game will help with the wear and tear on him. They cannot afford to lose TJ Watt in 2021.
I believe if the Steelers want to add a linebacker early in the 2021 NFL draft they should do it at the inside linebacker position instead of the outside. You can get great value at the outside linebacker position who can help give Watt and Highsmith relief in the later rounds of the 2021 NFL draft. Focus on the offensive line, running back, and inside linebacker positions first, and then work your way into filling your needs in the later rounds.
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