New Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was handed the reins to the league’s most expensive defense with a real opportunity to transform the unit into one of the NFL’s elite groups. Based on last year’s lackluster results, that’s no simple task. The Athletic’s Mike Jones believes one position group could be the key to Graham unlocking the defense’s potential.
“The Steelers are always associated with physicality and punishing defenses, but Pittsburgh has proved average against the run and ranked among the bottom third in the league on third downs,” Jones wrote. “For new coordinator Patrick Graham to truly make improvements in this department, he’ll need improved execution from inside linebackers Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson.
“Both have the athleticism to make plays all over the field, but Graham will need to help each learn how to play with greater discipline and better execution so they become true tone-setters.”
Queen was given a lucrative deal that, at the time, was a record for external free agent signings in Pittsburgh. It hasn’t been all bad. But from missed tackles to communication issues, he has struggled to be the true difference-maker Pittsburgh envisioned. When opportunities to make big plays have been there, he’s dropped interceptions, missed critical sacks, and failed to pick up fumbles.
Some of those issues are harder to correct, but missed tackles and inconsistent execution are areas where Graham and his staff can make an immediate impact. Part of that may involve putting Queen in positions that allow him to play faster rather than forcing him to process too much information before and after the snap. If Pittsburgh wants to unlock the potential of its linebacker room, the days of asking its inside linebackers to regularly cover wide receivers on critical third downs should be over.
Wilson’s issues are a little different. His missed tackle rate is solid, but he needs to improve his gap discipline. He has a bad habit of running past his assignment and right into blocks, which he subsequently has trouble disengaging from. There’s all the potential in the world for him to become a top linebacker in the league, but Graham must help him find it.
Entering Year 3, Wilson can cash in with the Steelers next offseason. Money is a great motivator, and it’s still reasonable to expect a young player like him to significantly improve at that stage of his career.
With no reported movement on an extension with Queen, Wilson is currently the beginning and the end of the team’s long-term plans. Despite spending a ton of time on the position before the 2026 draft, Pittsburgh did not select an inside linebacker with any of its 10 picks.
With improved defensive line and secondary play, all excuses are gone for the Steelers’ linebackers. The talent is there, and now it’s on Graham to make sure the execution follows.
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