The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to rework their inside linebacking group entering 2023 completely. One draft analyst says to keep an eye on the team trying to land one rising star in the draft next month at the position to keep him wearing black and gold for the foreseeable future.
Joel Klatt of Fox Sports thinks that with the team moving on from former 10th-overall Devin Bush Jr., grabbing Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jack Campbell with one of their picks in the second round makes too much sense.
"This is the type of guy who plays a really aggressive style of defense that fits in Pittsburgh and those fans will love him, that coaching staff will love him," Klatt said. "This guy is big and listen I'd love it if he ran a little better but when you watch the tape he moves better than what he would do in a 40-yard dash. He's a really smart player. He makes every play that you need him to make. He's a sure tackler. He can come in and eventually be a captain for your defense."
The Steelers' new linebacking group isn't old per se with the newly acquired Elandon Roberts as the elder statesman turning 30 at the end of April, but it lacks a real high-end prospect for the future. Mark Robinson has shown plenty of promise but as a seventh-round pick who played running back in college, expectations need to be tempered. Tae Crowder, Mr. Irrelevant in the 2020 NFL draft, remains on the roster, but after not having played a snap in Pittsburgh after they signed him off waivers from the New York Giants, he remains a depth piece.
While Klatt seems to think that Campbell comes in as Bush's replacement, he shouldn't be under the same pressure his predecessor was to come in and replace Ryan Shazier. In this hypothetical, Klatt has Campbell falling into the Steelers' lap at pick 49. So already, the team didn't trade away draft capital to move up to get him and he doesn't have the stress of being a top-ten pick. The other difference is that the former Hawkeye shouldn't be expected to be a necessary day-one starter like Bush was in his rookie season. With veterans like Roberts and Cole Holcomb ahead of him on the depth chart, Campbell should be able to rotate in.
"Lack of turnover at the head coaching spot, toughness, the ability to play smart, having the identity on the defensive side of being tough and physical," Klatt rhymed off.
Longtime Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz grew up in Pittsburgh and idolized legendary Steelers bench boss Chuck Noll, so it's not too surprising that he's tried to mimic some of his idol's philosophies in building his own program. And with this year's crop of talent at the school and it's no surprise that the Steelers were among all 32 NFL teams to have staff at the school's pro day.
Do you agree with Klatt that Campbell would look good in a different set of black and gold jerseys? Is he the best option for the Steelers at linebacker in this draft?
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