In on the Leighton Vander Esch market, the Steelers will instead end up with another linebacker who spent his rookie-contract years in the NFC East. They are signing former Commanders linebacker Cole Holcomb, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
The Commanders wanted to bring back the former fifth-round pick, John Keim of ESPN.com adds (on Twitter), but the sides were too far apart on value. Holcomb, 26, is heading to Pittsburgh on a three-year deal. Holcomb’s contract is worth $18MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Although Holcomb is coming off an injury-abbreviated contract year, he started throughout his four-year Washington tenure. He finished the 2021 season with 142 tackles, two interceptions — one of them a pick-six — and seven pass deflections, and Pro Football Focus graded the ex-North Carolina Tar Heel as a top-25 off-ball linebacker that year. He will join a Steelers team that ultimately did not see enough from former first-round pick Devin Bush, who is now a free agent.
Last year, Holcomb suffered a foot injury that ultimately required surgery. He underwent the procedure in December, but that did not impede a multiyear contract. The Commanders have already agreed to terms with ex-Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton, though Keim notes the team is still aiming to add another piece at that position.
Many ILBs have come off the board already, though a few options remain. Lavonte David and Bobby Wagner may be eyeing roles with surefire Super Bowl contenders, but Bush, Deion Jones, Zach Cunningham, Denzel Perryman and Rashaan Evans are available heading into the 2023 league year.
Pittsburgh still rosters 2022 free agency pickup Myles Jack, who is going into the second season of his two-year deal, but lost Robert Spillane to the Raiders on Tuesday. Spillane started 15 games over the past three seasons with Pittsburgh, which did not pick up Bush’s fifth-year option in 2022.
Good addition. Under the radar where having a big name is concerned but a real upgrade over Bush and Spillane
heck might even be an upgrade over Jack
love this signing
Good to see the Steelers being active and not just waiting to draft guys to save the day.
usually guys in nfl reach free agency for a reason
I just noticed Watts cap hit is $29M. That’s crazy. He better stay healthy this year.
they don’t have to pay a QB so same difference
pending injury recovery , I have to slap myself in the face a few times because it just hit me that the Steelers have 2 competent ILBs.
all the years of Bush, Schoebert, Spillane, Vince Williams
especially Bush tho, good riddance.
this dates back to 2016 with Timmons and Shazier tandem and Shazier’s unfathomable injury leading to the unsightly trade-up to draft Devin Bushleague
Holcome and Jack represent 2 above average starters with high upside.
Yeah, agree again, and Robinson may be a guy who becomes a big timer someday, too
Interesting additions so far and I’d wonder what the collective thinking is among Khan, Weidl and Tomlin for those first couple of draft picks
oline and wideout
They’re already paying starting CB money to 3 guys on the roster