Cole Holcomb

Holcomb was a dominant defender over his four years in Washington, and he signed a three-year contract with the Steelers ahead of the 2023 campaign. He had a productive start to the year, but he sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 9. It's not yet clear when Holcomb will be able to return, but the Steelers have been optimistic that he isn't dealing with a career-ending injury. If Holcomb can return to health at some point in 2024, he should have plenty of chances to rack up tackles alongside T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but Holcomb's return timetable is unclear.

After a huge season for Washington in 2021, Holcomb played only seven games last year due to a foot injury, but he still racked up 69 tackles. The injury cost him money in free agency, but he still landed a three-year contract from the Steelers in March, a deal the team can get out of easily if he can't regain his old form. The 2019 fifth-round pick makes up for a lack of top-tier instincts with plus pursuit speed, so the caution is understandable. If he's 100 percent though, Holcomb should be a strong fit in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense.

If Holcomb plays a lot, he will post tackle numbers among the league leaders, it’s that simple. Through three years Holcomb averages about 143 tackles per 1,000 snaps, and in 2021 he played a team-leading 980 snaps at inside linebacker. Even if 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis sees more snaps in his second season, those snaps would occur at the expense of Jon Bostic rather than Holcomb.

Holcomb has less brand recognition than some IDP linebackers, though perhaps for not much longer. Washington likely selected first-round linebacker Jamin Davis to replace Jon Bostic rather than Holcomb, so Holcomb is a good bet to secure a three-down role and ascend to LB1 viability as an IDP. He produced 72 tackles and 2.5 sacks on 555 snaps last year, and before the NFL he was a productive three-year starter at North Carolina. With an elite front four keeping blockers off him, Holcomb should push for 130 tackles in 2021.

A fifth-round pick last year, Holcomb ended up starting 15 of 16 games, with his 105 tackles tying Jon Bostic for second most among Washington players. It isn't clear Holcomb will have a similar role in his second pro season, as the team signed Thomas Davis in March and hopes to have Rueben Foster back healthy from last year's ACL tear. Even if he retains a starting job, Holcomb won't necessarily handle a three-down role, after struggling in coverage during his rookie campaign.