Steelers sign veteran inside linebacker Malik Harrison
The Pittsburgh Steelers added an inside linebacker likely to play a subpackage role on their defense, reportedly agreeing to terms with veteran Malik Harrison on the opening day of free agency Monday evening.
A five-year veteran who’d spent his entire career with Baltimore, Harrison becomes the second Ravens inside linebacker in as many offseasons to join the Steelers in free agency. But unlike Patrick Queen last March signing for $41 million over three years — a Steelers record for an external free agent – Harrison’s deal is for two years and $10 million, according to the NFL Network. In the modern NFL, that represents a player who might play a quarter to a third of his team’s defensive snaps.
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Harrison is known as a two-down, run-stuffing linebacker. His addition likely spells the end of Elandon Roberts’ tenure with the Steelers. Harrison played 38% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps last season and was a special teams contributor.
The Steelers have Queen as an every-down inside linebacker with Payton Wilson deployed most often on passing downs. Cole Holcomb also is working to return to game action as he recovers from a serious knee injury suffered in November 2023.
Roberts, who turns 31 next month, remained unsigned as the first day of so-called “legal tampering” for free agents was winding down Monday.
Harrison, 27, last season had 54 tackles (22 solo, three for loss), two sacks and three QB hits. He was a third-round pick of Baltimore in 2020 out of Ohio State.
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.
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