Tim Benz, Matt Williamson’s NFL Draft preview: Depth of talent at inside or outside linebacker could tempt Steelers

In advance of the NFL Draft (April 29-May 1), “Breakfast With Benz” is spending this week publishing daily Pittsburgh Steelers previews and podcasts. We are breaking down the franchise’s needs into five different sections.

Each day, former college and NFL scout Matt Williamson (Steelers radio contributor/“Peacock and Williamson NFL Show”) joins me to analyze the prospective talent within a given position group.

We also will discuss potential Steelers targets, organizational needs and draft strategy.

In Thursday’s post, we look at the defensive front seven.

Not gonna lie. I thought this post was going to be a lot more interesting about a week ago.

With Devin Bush coming off a knee injury, Vince Williams released, Robert Spillane slated as a starter and minimal depth thereafter, I wondered if the Steelers may shock a lot of people leaning offense and take an inside linebacker.

Now, with Williams coming back, I’m less inclined to consider that prospect.

Not only would there have been an obvious need at that position, but there are loads of good players who fit the “off-the-ball” linebacker mold. And in Thursday’s podcast, Williamson cosigns on a point I’ve made many times this offseason about inside linebackers.

Everybody should try to find a pair of inside linebackers like Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David and Devin White. It can’t be one star like Ryan Shazier or Devin Bush and … just some other guy. It can’t be one three-down athlete and a run plugger. Everyone should try to find an inside linebacker tandem like they try to find two good cornerbacks.

“It’s easier said than done. We saw life (in Pittsburgh) when you had none,” Williamson said. “But if you have two, it is a luxury few teams have. I often think of (Patrick) Willis and (NaVorro) Bowman in San Francisco. The Tampa Bay reference is a great one.

“There is a lot of speed and athleticism at the second level of this draft that would look pretty darn good next to Bush.”

Penn State’s Micah Parsons is at the top of the list at the position. He’ll be long gone before the Steelers pick at No. 24. Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah likely won’t last either.

But lots of others such as Ohio State products Baron Browning and Pete Werner, Zaven Collins (Tulsa), Jamin Davis (Kentucky) and Jabril Cox (LSU) could be available.

Collins is particularly interesting at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds. He appears able to move well enough at that size to play inside in a 3-4 but could also rush off the edge if asked.

“Very long, he’s better off the ball,” Williamson said. “Flipping his hips and running with these big, tall tight ends. Kind of reminds me of Anthony Barr or Jamie Collins. Really athletic, rare special abilities for somebody that tall. Super interesting guy. You can really do a lot with him.”

But if the Steelers feel comfortable enough with depth at that position (I wouldn’t), they may consider beefing up the outside linebacker position group. After all, both Bud Dupree and Ola Adeniyi left for the Tennessee Titans in free agency.

So even if head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert are ready to anoint Alex Highsmith as a full-time replacement opposite T.J. Watt (I would not yet), some additional numbers at the position could be helpful.

Miami’s Gregory Rousseau is a player often mocked to the Steelers. But Williamson isn’t quite sold that he’d blend in with the Steelers scheme.

“Rousseau is someone I would frown upon,” Williamson said. “I think he is more of a 4-3 hand-in-the-dirt guy. Not super twitchy.”

Other feasible options at the position who Williamson thinks may be a better fit include another ex-Hurricane, Jaelan Phillips.

Many who scout the draft see Penn State’s Jayson Oweh as an elite prospect. He had a freakish pro day but didn’t have a sack last year.

“He’s a defensive end who ran a 4.37 (40-yard dash). That doesn’t happen,” Williamson said. “He had no sacks last year, but he was disruptive. It’s not like he doesn’t show up on tape and he had some sack production in the past.

“The upside is through the roof. His traits scream first-round pick.”

In Thursday’s podcast outlining the front seven, Williamson and I also speak about Pitt’s Patrick Jones. We talk about why Tyson Alualu’s decision to return to Pittsburgh was so important this year. And Matt tells me why he isn’t as high on Missouri’s Nick Bolton as an inside linebacker match for the Steelers as I am.

Listen: Tim Benz and Matt Williamson look at defensive front seven players in the NFL Draft that could help the Steelers