Steelers 2021 offseason positional outlook: Inside linebackers

Editor’s note: This is Part 8 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com:

No position group on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense was hit harder by injuries than inside linebacker. Heading into the 2020 season, no group could afford to have such a strain put on its numbers.

A year after taking Devin Bush in the first round, the Steelers didn’t use a draft pick or free-agent signing to add to the inside linebacker group. The Steelers entered with Bush and Vince Williams, who was used primarily as a backup in 2019, as the starters, with Ulysees Gilbert, Robert Spillane and converted safety Marcus Allen behind them on the depth chart.

Bush’s season-ending torn ACL in the fifth game of the season represented the first challenge. That moved Spillane, a special teams contributor, into the lineup for the first time in his brief NFL career.

Spillane capably held down the position for seven starts, and the Steelers acquired veteran Avery Williamson from the New York Jets to take Bush’s roster spot.

Spillane’s knee injury against Washington also landed him on injured reserve for the final four games of the regular season, and the depth was further tested when Williams missed two games because of covid-19 and Gilbert spent five weeks on the IR list with a back problem. He also finished the year there with a balky ankle.

The situation was so dire that Allen got regular snaps down the stretch, and Tegray Scales was promoted from the practice squad as insurance. The turnover was such that no player logged more than 65% of the defensive snaps for the season.

Bush is expected to be healthy for training camp, but it remains to be seen who will start next to him. Williams is 31 and entering the final year of his contract. He continued to be a productive player last season, but his contract contains a salary cap hit in excess of $7 million. The Steelers could save $4 million by moving on from the eight-year veteran.

Based on the current roster, Spillane would be next in line to start next season. His seven starts last year, though, are the only ones in his NFL career, and he was exposed in pass coverage in the wild-card loss to Cleveland. Like Spillane, Allen is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning the Steelers have sole negotiating rights. He could return to round out the depth chart.

Gilbert has two years left on his contract. Injuries aside, he never has emerged as a dependable contributor when he has gotten into games.

Williamson is an unrestricted free agent. At 29, he is two years younger than Williams and could be a cheaper option for the Steelers to bring back. Scales and Chartiers Valley’s Christian Kuntz were brought back on futures contracts and could compete for roster spots in training camp.

Offseason outlook: Inside linebackers

Returnees

Vince Williams, 1 year left on contract, $7,031,668 cap hit for 2021

Devin Bush, 2 years left on contract (plus fifth-year option), $5,146,845 cap hit or 2021

Ulysees Gilbert III, 2 years left on contract, $881,838 cap hit for 2021

Others under contract

Tegray Scales, 1 year left on contract, $780,000 cap hit for 2021

Christian Kuntz, 1 year left on contract, $660,000 cap hit for 2021

Free agents

Avery Williamson, unrestricted, $1,455,885 cap hit for 2020

Robert Spillane, exclusive rights, $616,178 cap hit for 2020

Marcus Allen, exclusive rights, $675,000 cap hit for 2020

Tomorrow: Outside linebackers