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Looking ahead at the Steelers: the linebackers

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For my second installment of looking at the Steelers moving forward, I’ll take a look at the linebacker position.

It’s a position in which the Steelers have invested a lot of high draft picks but haven’t always gotten the kind of production expected out of players taken that high. But overall, it was an effective group,

Here’s where they stand:

Guys under contract: Lawrence Timmons; Arthur Moats; Jarvis Jones; Ryan Shazier; Bud Dupree; James Harrison; Vince Williams; Jordan Zumwalt; Anthony Chickillo; L.J. Fort.

Timmons has a massive cap hit of $15.1 million with a base salary of $8.75 million thanks to some restructures. But he still led the team in tackles, again, and also had five sacks and an interception. Timmons will turn 30 but can still play. Extending him and lowering his 2016 cap hit will be something the team will work on this offseason. The other big question mark here is Harrison. He’s set to earn just $1.25 million and count $1.5 million against the team’s salary cap, so the cost will not be prohibitive. The only issue is if Harrison wants to return and put his body through what he needs to do to compete at this level again. The guess here is that he’ll come back and chase the ring one more time, though for the good of the team, he’ll need to cede more playing time to Jarvis Jones and Bud Dupree. Both of those players need to continue to progress. Both showed flashes last year, but need to become more consistent. Jones, in particular, will likely never live up to the expectations of fans. The Steelers will have to make a decision about whether to pick up his 2017 option – at $8 million. Though they could cut him after 2016 if it doesn’t work out, I don’t see that happening. The Steelers will instead likely let him play this season and see if they want to sign him to an extension after the season. Shazier could be the lynchpin to everything the Steelers do defensively moving forward. He’s a guy who can make plays in the backfield, at the line of scrimmage and downfield and displayed that ability in the playoffs. The Steelers need more of that moving forward to become a great defense.

Free agents: Sean Spence; Terence Garvin

Not much to see here. Either Spence or Garvin or both could be brought back if the price tag isn’t too high, but the Steelers aren’t going to overspend for either. And with friendly coaching staffs now in Tennessee, Arizona and even Cleveland waiting to grab guys who know the Steelers’ system, both could get better offers.

FA targets: Don’t see any additions here. Chickillo will be expected to make a step forward. Zumwalt will get another shot to show he can be a contributor. Fort is an interesting guy who has kicked around the league for a while. He’s a solid special teams player and will get a shot to show he can be a defensive contributor.

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