Pittsburgh Steelers free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

4. ILB Will Compton (Oakland Raiders)

The big question in terms of the Steelers’ potential free-agent class this year is what will outside linebacker Bud Dupree command after a career year? The 2015 first-round selection was a 16-game starter for the first time and responded with 68 tackles, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three passes defensed.

But the defense’s bigger need might actually be at inside linebacker. Rookie Devin Bush got off to a blistering start in ’19 and would finish as Pittsburgh’s leading tackler with 109 stops. Add in one sack, two forced fumbles, a pair of interceptions and four fumble recoveries and the numbers are impressive indeed. But the 2019 first-round pick from the University of Michigan totaled all six of his takeaways in the team’s first six outings.

In any case, the team could still use some more help up the middle of this unit. General manager Kevin Colbert added versatile linebacker Mark Barron last offseason but he was spotty at best. There’s been speculation that 2018 first-round pick Terrell Edmunds is better suited at safety than linebacker. Veteran Vince Williams enters his eighth NFL season but started only eight games in ’19.

Inside veteran linebacker Will Compton began his career with the Washington Redskins and has now played with three different teams the past three years. Like Darqueze Dennard, he could wind up being an economical pickup for a team seemingly always strapped by the salary cap.

Next: No. 3