The Pittsburgh Steelers sign Kwon Alexander on a one-year contract. The former pro bowl linebacker has officially joined the team and has reported to training camp. Alexander formerly played for the Buccaneers, Saints, 49ers, and Jets during his eight years in the NFL.
In 2022, Alexander started 12 games for the Jets while playing in all 17. He racked up 69 tackles and 6 tackles for loss. Alexander was also solid in coverage only allowing a passer rating of 89.5 when targeted, which is among the top of the league for linebackers.
At this point in his career, Alexander is an experienced veteran that really has no weaknesses. Although he may not make a lot of splash plays, Alexander is a quality starter for any NFL team.
The Steelers desperately needed some depth in their linebacker room. Alexander provides that and then some. In the offseason, Pittsburgh completely revamped the inside linebacker room. With new signees in Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts projected to start, it’s hard to know what to expect. Alexander is a steady presence in that room and has performed at a starter level on four different teams now.
One thing that all great teams do is specialize. Alexander signing with the Steelers allows them to do this on all levels of the defense. Cole Holcomb is good in all situations, but the other projected starter, Elandon Roberts, is not. Roberts is a big thumping run defender that can blow up plays. However, he struggles mightily in pass coverage. Alexander, who is much better in coverage, can pair great with Roberts.
Another benefit to Alexander signing is it allows Keanu Neal to play more freely. Without Alexander, it would most likely have been Neal playing in the linebacker spot on passing downs. Now that Alexander is taking that role, Neal can be used in a multitude of different positions anywhere from slot corner to deep safety.
The Steelers sign Kwon Alexander not just for his talent but also for his leadership. With his eight years in the NFL, Alexander is the most experienced linebacker on the roster. He is also widely considered on of the best defensive leaders in the NFL.
In 2022, when Alexander played for the Jets, his coaches were very outspoken about his ability to lead people. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich stated, “(Alexander) has an amazing ability to affect others and influence others and bring people along with him.”
This is the kind of mentality that brought the Steelers so much success early in Mike Tomlins tenure. Veteran Linebackers like James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons were able to lead the Steelers all the way to a Superbowl.
In recent years, the Steelers have not had much leadership from the linebacker position. Devin Bush was not a terrible player, but he seemed to lack the qualities necessary to be a leader. Replacing him with Alexander should be a substantial upgrade both on and off the field.
Stay tuned for more exciting NFL content, including roster moves, in depth analysis, and more news from around the league.Â
Feature image courtesy of New York Jets
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