Steelers Target?
With a crazy off-season about to begin for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sportsvival will investigate potential targets both in free agency and in the draft. With so many ways to go, Sportsvival will start off with some of the players we would like to see the Steelers sign or select. First up we are going to go with Iowa center- Tyler Linderbaum.
The Steelers have so many issues to solve during the 2022 off-season including QB, DL, LB, CB, S, WR…. etc… etc… etc… The biggest of all needs I did not even list and it is the offensive line. The Steelers had trouble running consistently and Ben Roethlisberger had the fastest release time of any QB in the league making for a ton of quick slants and God-awful screens. I feel very enthusiastic about this pick as it will fix two spots with one pick.
Kendrick Green, the Steelers third round pick in the 2021 draft, primarily played guard at Illinois but was picked to play center by the Steelers. Green was overmatched most of the year and had trouble handling bull rushes, and never became the kind of leader you need at the center position. From all reports I have been hearing is that Green would be more comfortable and productive at the guard position so drafting this kid out of Iowa would be a big plus.
This kid out of Iowa is Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum, 6’3” and 290 lbs. who started his Hawkeye career as a defensive lineman. Head coach Kirk Ferentz saw something in Linderbaum and moved him to center. Tyler has grown each season, eventually becoming a unanimous All-American and the Rimington Award winner. Linderbaum is in the conversation of the best talented center to come out in the past 10 years. Not only does Tyler have all the skills you want for your team, but he also used his NIL benefits to write a $30,000 check to the Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Here is a scouting report that you can also find in the 2022 Sportsvival NFL Draft Guide (Late April)
Strengths
Very athletic, with strong hands
Has great contact balance and sticks to his blocks
Great posture and skill set, very smart
Excels against bull rushes.
Can also play guard in a pinch if needed
Weaknesses
Needs to work on non-two hand techniques
Reach and wingspan below average of what NFL likes
Sometimes overruns his initial target, needs to sometimes slow down his initial steps.
I know there is a legit chance that Linderbaum may not be available at 20 for the Steelers. Mocks are showing him anywhere from as high as 12 and as low as 25. If he is there in my mind this is a no-brainer.