The Pittsburgh Steelers received high praise for the work they did during the free agency period right before the 2026 NFL Draft. General Manager Omar Khan added some great complementary pieces to an already solid roster, and did so on both sides of the football. Now that the team is seemingly more well-rounded, one name has been floated out by an NFL analyst that sees them and the Black and Gold as a great pairing.
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Former Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy celebrating during his time with the team in an NFL game.
On Monday, Ryan Wilson appeared on CBS Sports HQ and suggested why veteran edge rusher Kyle Van Noy would be a good target for the Steelers, especially with his versatility. He mentioned why the two parties would make a great pair, even though Pittsburgh has a veteran trio at edge rusher in TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig. Wilson did also note Jack Sawyer, who the team drafted on the third day of last year's draft. However, injuries can add up quickly in the NFL, which is where Van Noy comes in.
"They don't have a ton of depth at edge rusher," Wilson said. "They do have TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. After that, Nick Herbig, who's on the last year of his rookie deal, and then Jack Sawyer, who they got on Day 3 last year who's a good player, not great yet. I think Kyle Van Noy adds versatility in that he can play off the edge, even though he's 35, [and] he can play off-ball linebacker."
While the Steelers may have more depth than Wilson believes, adding a versatile veteran that can play edge rusher while also shifting to off-ball linebacker certainly could not hurt matters. Should an injury, or even several occur, Van Noy is a knowledgeable and experienced player that can be used as a dynamic free agent signing. He played his previous three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, as well as spending some time playing for the Steelers' other big rival, the New England Patriots.
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Kyle Van Noy sacks Russell Wilson during the Ravens-Steelers game on Jan. 11, 2025.
Van Noy has 10 career fumble recoveries for two touchdowns, as well as four interceptions and one return touchdown off of an interception. While the idea may be a bit off the wall, Pittsburgh can definitely benefit from veteran leadership in their locker room alongside new head coach Mike McCarthy. A 12-year veteran on defense could certainly help their strong group of edge rushers, especially the younger Sawyer who will enter his second season with the team.
Steelers Would Welcome Van Noy For The Right Price And Role
The defensive front for the Black and Gold is strong and very talented, highlighted by Watt. However, Herbig emerged onto the scene and had a great breakout 2025 season. While he is on the last year of his rookie deal, having a two-time Super Bowl winner like Van Noy can only help his play rise to even greater heights.
Van Noy's two Super Bowls would also add great value to help new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in his first year in the Steel City. In Graham's initial year with the Las Vegas Raiders, his defense struggled mightily. However, he quickly turned things around in 2023, as Las Vegas finished in the top-10 in scoring defense for the first time since 2002. Graham's leadership was cited in their turnaround and players in Pittsburgh already seem to like him as well.
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Steelers' new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during his time with the Las Vegas Raiders.
With an entirely new coaching staff, you cannot have enough leadership on the sidelines, or on the field. Adding Van Noy to this group with their first year under Graham would be an interesting situation for Pittsburgh and one that does make sense after all, given his ability to move to different positions on the field. While this is just a hypothetical proposal by Wilson that may not come to fruition, it would be a good move from a value standpoint. He can still impact games, even as he enters his 13th year in the NFL, while raising the game of others around him.
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