Ex-Rams LB signs, fills hole before draft

Barron, 29, to pair with Williams inside

The Steelers signed former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Mark Barron to a free-agent contract.

The addition of Barron means the Steelers have addressed all three of their biggest offseason needs through free agency. They signed cornerback Steven Nelson and receiver Donte Moncrief last week.

Before the Rams released him earlier this month, Barron had been one of the NFL’s highest-paid inside linebackers. He signed a five-year, $45 million contract in 2016, but was cut in a cost-savings move.

The signing gives the Steelers a veteran presence in the middle of their defense as well as an athletic player who is capable of being a three-down linebacker.

Barron, 29, who entered the league as a safety, was the No. 7 overall pick of Tampa Bay in 2012, but he struggled to find his groove in 2½ seasons with the Buccaneers and was traded to the Rams in the middle of the 2014 season. It was with the Rams that Barron finally found his niche as an inside linebacker. He played 4½ seasons with the Rams and thrived in Wade Phillips’ defense the past two years.

Barron had five of his eight career interceptions in 2016 and 2017. This past season, the 6-foot-2, 230pounder played in 12 games season and recorded 60 tackles and registered one sack.

The Steelers have Vince Williams penciled in as a starter at inside linebacker, but they were looking for an upgrade over Jonathan Bostic, who signed a two-year deal as a free agent last March. Bostic fell out of favor late in the season and lost playing time to L.J. Fort, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles last week.

Fort’s departure left a void in the pass defense, and Barron has the skill set to take his place.

Signing a 29-year old is a bit out

of character for the Steelers, who usually target young free agents coming off their first contract. Nelson and Moncrief are 26 and 25, respectively.

Last offseason, the Steelers signed safety Morgan Burnett, who was 29 at the time. He struggled with three separate injuries last season and asked for his release in January. The Steelers have yet to oblige his request.

Barron is the same age, but he doesn’t have the checkered injury history that Burnett had with the Green Bay Packers. Barron has played in 14 games or more six times in his first seven NFL seasons.

Last season was the first time Barron missed more than two games. He missed the first four games last season with an Achilles injury that carried over from the end of the 2017 season, but he returned to start the final 12 games of the regular season as well as three playoff games. He had 22 postseason tackles, including eight in the Super Bowl.

Barron’s signing should not greatly alter the Steelers’ draft plans, but it does give them flexibility as they prepare for it. They have filled all of their glaring needs and can approach their selection at No. 20 overall by not having to reach for a player or overpay in compensation should they attempt to move up in the first round.

And given Barron’s versatility as a pass defender and run defender he should be able to move to dime linebacker if the Steelers do land an inside linebacker in the first round of the draft.

Burnett played that role last season when he was healthy, but he made it known he would prefer to play safety.