Steelers 2-a-days: Elijah Riley an option at safety; Elandon Roberts brings leadership to remade ILB room

Chris Adamski | Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Elijah Riley and inside linebacker Elandon Roberts

Editor’s note: From the end of minicamp through the day the team reports to training camp at Saint Vincent, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2023 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 16 and July 26. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

S ELIJAH RILEY

Experience: 17 regular-season NFL games over the past three years

Contract status: $1.01 million cap hit if he makes the team in 2023

2023 outlook: Riley was claimed off waivers from the New York Jets late during last year’s preseason. While he didn’t make the active roster, Riley immediately was added to the practice squad, where he was “called up” twice (one of those times appearing in a game) and promoted fully to the 53-man roster for the final three regular-season games. Riley totaled 20 defensive snaps and 25 special-teams snaps for the Steelers in 2022. His prior NFL regular-season experience came with the Philadelphia Eagles (six games in 2020-21) and Jets (seven games in 2021).

Riley’s intangibles need no further endorsement than to note he was a captain at Army. The 6-foot, 205-pound defensive back played cornerback in college, and although he is listed as a safety in the NFL, Riley has been versatile during his limited action. Riley can play free safety, closer to the line of scrimmage or as a slot/nickel cornerback.

Like a lot of safeties on the fringe of the roster, though, Riley will make the team — and most likely make his mark — on special teams. He can excel on coverage and return teams, areas the Steelers need reinforcements after the departure of so many of their core special-teamers from last season. On defense, Riley likely would play only in specialized niche roles.

New Steelers ILB Elandon Roberts: “I feel like Pittsburgh is a perfect fit for my style.” pic.twitter.com/qJvazbiFnd

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) March 20, 2023

ILB ELANDON ROBERTS

Experience: 8th season

Contract status: $2.33 million cap hit in 2023, signed through 2024

2023 outlook: Roberts has been a team captain for each of the two NFL teams he’s played for (the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins), as well as in college for Houston. Roberts is part of an almost wholesale makeover of the Steelers’ inside linebackers corps over the offseason: The top three at the position from 2022 left via free agency. Veterans Roberts, Cole Holcomb and Nick Kwiatkoski were signed to join second-year holdover Mark Robinson. Roberts and Holcomb are expected to be the starters.

Roberts has a reputation as more of a run-stuffer than excelling in coverage. For what it’s worth, Roberts was graded fifth-worst in coverage among the 52 NFL inside linebackers in 2022 who played the most snaps. (He was graded the best of them in rushing the passer with 13 pressures in only 29 opportunities.) It will be interesting to see if Roberts stays on the field for the Steelers in obvious passing situations, but it seems assured he will be (at very least) a first- and second-down defender for the Steelers.

Roberts already has shown to be a good addition to the locker room. How the playing time shakes out between the Steelers’ off-ball linebackers and safeties will be one of the stories to watch throughout training camp and the preseason.

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