Bostic signing frees Colbert, Steelers up for draft-day moves
While many teams around the NFL have been engaged in heavy free agency movement, the Pittsburgh Steelers – traditionally not heavily involved – signed Jon Bostic, an interior linebacker that, prior to an injury in the waning moments of the season, was having his the best year in his pro career in 2017. The addition of Bostic to the roster at a relatively cap-friendly cost frees up general manager Kevin Colbert and the draft board to follow a system that has worked well for the Steelers – grabbing the best available player available when it comes time to call out a name.
Bostic has been a fairly effective linebacker since being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. The Bears liked that Bostic was the hammer that pounded the nail in the center of his Florida Gators squad and was willing to go head-to-head with the offensive line and blockers to complete his assignment and make the play. In a post-Brian Urlacher defense, Bostic worked with Lance Briggs and James Anderson as well as D.J. Williams.
While Williams recovered from injury only to tear a pectoral muscle, Briggs suffered a fractured shoulder in the middle of the 2013 season giving Bostic an opportunity to step up and make an impact. Phil Emery felt Bostic was a “hit-and-run player” that had a level of physicality that would add a nice dynamic to the Bears defense. Playing in all 16 games, Bostic worked through rookie mistakes and made some great plays. In Week 11, against the Baltimore Ravens, he grabbed his first career interception, following in Briggs’ (2003) footsteps as the first Bears rookie linebacker to do so and ended the season with 57 tackles and two sacks.
Bostic would then spend time with the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and Indianapolis Colts, but was on the cusp of a breakout season last year until he injured his right knee against the Denver Broncos and was placed on injured/reserve for the final two games of the season. Having started in all 14 games prior to the injury at WILL linebacker, Bostic finished with a team-best 97 tackles (six for a loss), one sack, three passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
A quick look at new #Steelers ILB Jon Bostic and his career stats since entering the NFL in 2013:
6'1"
246 lbs.
241 Total Tackles
3 Sacks
7 Passes Defended
1 INT— Zach Metkler (@CoachMetkler) March 19, 2018
What makes his signing intriguing for the Steelers is that they have a guy with a reputation for being strong in the middle, able to close well and read the offense. Last season, the Steelers had issues in run defense following the injury to Ryan Shazier and the addition of Sean Spence did little to alleviate the pain. Bostic also offers the Steelers breathing room and a more fluid big board during the draft. Colbert and company won’t have their hands forced to immediately jump on an inside linebacker but will be able to be freed up to go after the best player available and possibly address other roster needs; safety being a high priority.
That isn’t to say that Pittsburgh won’t target an inside linebacker during the draft, but Bostic’s signing allows them to grab a rookie they can develop at the position behind veterans like Bostic and Vince Williams.
Bostic is primed to have a great year and may be ready to play his best pro football yet. He isn’t the second-coming, but his upside is being able to immediately step into a familiar role with a team on the cusp of special things. “Bostic likely knows his place,” said Zac Metkler, Steel City Underground contributor and co-founder of GZSports Report. “I’m sure a lot of the contract discussions revolved around the idea that he’ll be given the chance to start but there will almost certainly be someone else added via the draft that will also be competing for time.”
