Steelers address inside linebacker in free agency with reported addition of Cole Holcomb

Chris Adamski
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 9:28 a.m. | Wednesday, March 15, 2023 9:28 a.m.

Washington Commanders linebacker Cole Holcomb is introduced before a game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, October 23, 2022 in Landover, Md.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Cole Holcomb (No. 55, right) combines on a tackle of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Anthony McFarland Jr. during a 2020 game at what was then called Heinz Field. A fifth-year inside linebacker, Holcomb agreed to terms with the Steelers in free agency on Wednesday.

Roughly 12 hours after news broke that Robert Spillane left via free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly agreed to terms with his apparent replacement.

Former Washington Commanders inside linebacker Cole Holcomb is set to join the Steelers on a three-year deal, according to the NFL Network. Holcomb, who will turn 27 during the first week of training camp, has been a four-year starter since being signed as an undrafted rookie by Washington in 2019.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Holcomb was limited to seven games last season because of injury, including a foot ailment that required surgery. A middle linebacker in the Commanders’ 4-3 defense last season, Holcomb figures to enter 2023 as one of the Steelers’ starters at inside linebacker.

Spillane and Devin Bush entered the offseason as free agents, and it seems clear the Steelers are done with the latter, a former No. 10 overall pick who tumbled down the depth chart late last season. Veteran Myles Jack remains on the roster despite an $11.25 million cap hit, and Mark Robinson flashed potential late in the season as a raw rookie seventh-round pick.

• Steelers 2023 free agency tracker: Signings, departures, who's left
• LB Robert Spillane set to leave Steelers, sign 2-year deal with Las Vegas Raiders
• Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi agrees to 3-year deal to return to Steelers

Terms of Holcomb’s contract were not immediately available.

Tuesday evening, Spillane agreed to a 2-year, $9 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Holcomb comes with a reputation of being solid in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, in 2021 (the most recent full season he played) Holcomb played 587 snaps in coverage — the eighth-most of any “off-ball” linebacker in the NFL. Four years ago, Holcomb ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds at his North Carolina pro day.

COLE HOLCOMB PICK-6!

Back-to-back #WashingtonFootball TDs makes it a 7-point game.

????: #DALvsWAS on FOX
????: NFL app pic.twitter.com/JfA5mMmLaS

— NFL (@NFL) December 12, 2021

Holcomb finished 10th in the NFL in overall tackles (142) and 13th in solo tackles (83) in 2021, a season during which he also had two interceptions, an interception returned for a touchdown, seven passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

While Holcomb accounted for five takeaways during 2021 alone, the entire Steelers inside linebackers corps combined for zero last season.

No signings are official until the start of the NFL new league year at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Holcomb joins veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson and guard Nate Herbig as additions made in free agency by the Steelers.

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.