Steelers Signing of Elandon Roberts Has Massive Impact on Linebacker Depth Chart

This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought a familiar face back to town.

Multiple reports confirm that inside linebacker Elandon Roberts has agreed to a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Roberts had a strong tenure with the Steelers from 2023 to 2024, starting 29 of 33 games. There was legitimate thought that he could be a Steeler through the end of his career.

However, Roberts departed in free agency and spent the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders. His return is certainly welcome, but it also creates some significant changes to the outlook of the inside linebacker depth chart.

Roberts should have an immediate impact on the defense. He excels against the run and has previously provided more than adequate coverage ability for the Steelers. However, Pittsburgh is operating in a relatively new defensive scheme. The good news is that Roberts is already familiar with it.

His signing will also have some trickle-down effects on the inside linebacker depth chart, with two current Steelers likely to feel the impact most.

Malik Harrison

As if Harrison's battle wasn't already uphill, Roberts' arrival could all but seal the deal. Harrison would give the Steelers $5 million in cap savings if they release or trade him. The player Harrison was brought in to replace now looks increasingly likely to replace him, especially considering Roberts' familiarity with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's scheme from their time together with the Las Vegas Raiders.

It's still early in the preseason, but it doesn't feel like there will be a ton of opportunity for Harrison. It's not out of the question that the Steelers could release him early, ahead of the final camp cutdowns, allowing him to get a head start on finding his next home.

Harrison and Roberts are both run-game specialists, but Roberts has already proven to Steelers fans that he is the superior player. Roberts also showed a surprising ability to handle coverage assignments when injuries ravaged Pittsburgh's inside linebacker room in 2023.

Payton Wilson

Wilson will probably remain the Steelers' primary passing-down inside linebacker. However, expect Roberts to have a legitimate chance to handle early-down work. Roberts is a far better run defender than Wilson, who remains a work in progress in that area of his game.

Wilson has flashed the ability to make plays in pass coverage and could still prove that he can be a three-down linebacker in the NFL. He will simply have to show significant growth as a run defender.

Wilson also provides special teams ability if the Steelers decide to move on from Harrison. That doesn't mean Wilson will spend most of his time there, but the Steelers should have some comfort in knowing he can contribute on special teams. Wilson's projected primary role on this team, however, will be on passing downs alongside Patrick Queen.

Things could still change despite the signing of Roberts. With a couple of weeks of preseason remaining, time will tell how Pittsburgh ultimately divides the workload at inside linebacker.