Steelers DC Patrick Graham reveals linebacker prototype Pittsburgh wants

The Pittsburgh Steelers have 12 picks in next week’s NFL Draft. With the sheer volume of picks they are currently slated to make, Pittsburgh could look to bolster several rooms that need added depth. The linebacker room certainly fits that mold.

During his media availability on Friday, new Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talked about what kind of profile they look for in a potential addition to the inside linebacker room.

“Can they come downhill, can they get underneath players’ pads, and can you use your hands.”

Graham’s comments suggest that the Steelers are looking to potentially add a run stuffing linebacker to their team through the draft. This would make sense, as Pittsburgh allowed 113.1 rushing yards per game during the 2025 regular season.

The Steelers have done extensive work by bringing in several players for top 30 pre-draft visits at the linebacker position.

Linebackers the Steelers hosted for pre-draft visits:

• Kyle Louis, Pitt
• Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
• Jaden Dugger, Louisiana
• Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
• Jack Kelly, BYU

All of these players fit the mold of downhill players who excel at stopping the run. Louis registered 24 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons at Pitt, but also projects as more of a coverage linebacker at the NFL level.

Graham told the media today that his scheme will evolve and adjust based on the players he has on the roster. It certainly wouldn’t be shocking to see the Steelers add a physical, speedy linebacker at some point during the 2026 NFL Draft.