The Pittsburgh Steelers very actively exploited free agency in recent years to address the inside linebacker position. Their success rate since Ryan Shazier in 2014 perhaps makes them a big gun-shy in that regard, one wonders. They do have their new first-round linebacker via free agency in Patrick Queen, though. And to him they added third-round draft pick Payton Wilson.
Winner of the Butkus Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award in 2022, Wilson’s on-field resume speaks for itself. The new Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award and earned unanimous All-American honors.