NFL · 1 hour ago

Countdown to Latrobe: Steelers Top 5 ILBs ranked via PFF grades

Bo Marchionte

Host · Writer

Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings
Steelers Inside Linebackers Overall

Coverage Grade
- Carson Bruener - 98th
- Cole Holcomb - 83rd
- Payton Wilson - 23rd
- Patrick Queen - 16th
- Malik Harrison - 10th
Coverage Grade in the Box
- Carson Bruener - 98th
- Cole Holcomb - 73rd
- Payton Wilson - 17th
- Patrick Queen - 15th
- Malik Harrison - 8th
Coverage Grade in the Slot
- Cole Holcomb -89th
- Patrick Queen - 45th
- Payton Wilson - 36th
- Malik Harrison - 14th
- Carson Bruener - 0th
Forced Incompletion Percentage
- Patrick Queen - 18th
- Payton Wilson - 14th
- Cole Holcomb - 11th (tied)
- Carson Bruener - 11th (tied)
- Malik Harrison - 11th (tied)
Run Defense Grade
- Cole Holcomb - 70th
- Carson Bruener - 61st
- Malik Harrison - 37th
- Patrick Queen - 20th
- Payton Wilson - 17th
Steelers Inside Linebackers

Run Stop Percentage
- Cole Holcomb - 61st
- Malik Harrison - 55th
- Payton Wilson - 38th
- Patrick Queen - 25th
- Carson Bruener - 0th
Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings
Projecting the Position Through PFF's Most Predictive Data

Countdown to Latrobe
- July 8 - Safeties
- July 9 - Offensive Line
- July 10 - Defensive Line
- July 11 - Cornerbacks
- July 12 - Inside Linebackers
- July 13 - Outside Linebackers
- July 14 -Running Backs
- July 16 - Tight Ends
- July 17 - Wide Receivers
- July 20 - Quarterbacks
- July 21 - Specialists (K, P, LS)
- July 22 - Final 53-Man Thoughts
As we continue our Steelers Training Camp Countdown, we shift our attention to the linebacker room using PFF's Stable Metrics. They’re statistics designed to better project future performance than traditional overall grades.

One important distinction deserves mention before diving into the individual players.

Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener actually finished with higher overall PFF defensive grades than several of their teammates. However, neither logged enough qualifying snaps to be included among PFF's 88 qualified NFL linebackers, meaning they were excluded from the league-wide rankings despite posting respectable grades in limited opportunities.

Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson and Malik Harrison all met the minimum snap requirement, allowing their stable metrics to be measured against every qualified linebacker in football.

For this series, we'll evaluate every projected contributor through the same lens. Coverage ability, run defense and the predictive metrics PFF believes translate best from one season to the next.

PFF Grades
- 5 Patrick Queen | 79 of 88
- 1Payton Wilson | 65 of 88
- 0 Malik Harrison | 62 of 88
- 6 Cole Holcomb*
- 6 Carson Bruener*
Remember these are just the grades. Expand to the PFF Stable Metrics by sliding the screen.
Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings 1) Payton Wilson
Payton Wilson: The Coverage Specialist

By far one of the more friendly faces in the Steelers’ locker-room, Payton Wilson has appeared in every game for the Steelers and started in eight games since 2024.

His coverage remains Wilson's greatest strength. His best work comes inside the box, while his overall coverage profile consistently outperformed his run-defense metrics.

Like many young linebackers, he still has room to grow taking on blocks and creating stops against the run, but his movement skills already make him an asset.

Payton Wilson's PFF Stable Metrics
- Coverage Grade - 23rd percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Box - 17th percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Slot - 36th percentile
- Forced Incompletion Percentage - 14th percentile
- Run Defense Grade - 17th percentile
- Run Stop Percentage - 38th percentile
Wilson’s Player Outlook

Wilson's athletic profile continues to excite. As his experience grows, Pittsburgh expects those coverage instincts to pair with stronger run defense, creating a true every-down linebacker.
Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings 2) Malik Harrison
Malik Harrison: Built to Stop the Run

Malik Harrison quietly carved out an important role for Pittsburgh by providing physicality and experience against the run. Unlike Holcomb and Bruener, Harrison qualified among PFF's 88 ranked linebackers, giving a larger sample of his predictive metrics.

Coverage remains the biggest hurdle. Harrison ranked near the bottom of the league in every major coverage category, but his run-stop percentage finished above average, reflecting the downhill style that has defined his NFL career. His physical presence continues to make him valuable in early-down situations.

Malik Harrison's PFF Stable Metrics
- Coverage Grade -10th percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Box - 8th percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Slot - 14th percentile
- Forced Incompletion Percentage - 11th percentile
- Run Defense Grade - 37th percentile
- Run Stop Percentage - 55th percentile
Harrison’s Player Outlook

Jamin Davis signed this offseason, the former first-round pick might be in the mix to for a training camp battle for roster space. Just something to keep tabs on during the summer.
Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings 3) Patrick Queen
Patrick Queen: Searching for a Bounce-Back Season

Patrick Queen arrived in Pittsburgh with the expectation of becoming the centerpiece of the Steelers' linebacker corps after earning All-Pro recognition during his final season in Baltimore.

While flashes of his athleticism remained evident throughout 2025, his PFF Stable Metrics suggest there is still work to be done if he's going to return to the form that made him one of the NFL's premier off-ball linebackers.

His 43.5 PFF defensive grade is the lowest since his second season back in 2021. It should be noted his peak performance year in the NFL was in 2023 with a grade of 73.0 and since the he has steadily graded worse.

Patrick Queen's PFF Stable Metrics
- Coverage Grade -16th percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Box - 15th percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Slot - 45th percentile
- Forced Incompletion Percentage - 18th percentile
- Run Defense Grade - 20th percentile
- Run Stop Percentage - 25th percentile
Queen’s Player Outlook

Queen remains one of the NFL's most gifted athletes at linebacker, but his predictive metrics suggest production has not consistently matched his talent. Pittsburgh doesn't need him to be perfect they need him to play closer to the level that earned him All-Pro honors. A rebound season from Queen could dramatically raise the ceiling of the Steelers' defense.
Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings 4) Cole Holcombe
Cole Holcomb: Small Sample, Encouraging Signs

Cole Holcomb's overall PFF grade was among the best of Pittsburgh's linebackers, but injuries and limited playing time prevented him from logging enough snaps to qualify among PFF's 88 ranked linebackers.

The most encouraging sign for the Steelers is that Holcomb recorded his highest defensive grade via PFF after returning from a horrific knee injury that robbed him of nine games in 2023 and the entire 2024 season.

Holcomb excelled in coverage, posting elite marks while playing in the box and holding an impressive overall coverage grade. His numbers suggest he remains comfortable diagnosing routes and limiting underneath throws. The biggest concern comes in slot coverage and run-stop production, two areas where his limited sample worked against him.

Cole Holcomb's PFF Stable Metrics
- Coverage Grade - 83rd percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Box - 73rd percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Slot - 89th percentile
- Forced Incompletion Percentage - 11th percentile
- Run Defense Grade - 70th percentile
- Run Stop Percentage - 61st percentile
Holcomb’s Player Outlook

Although he didn't qualify for league rankings, Holcomb's Stable Metrics are quietly impressive. Staying healthy will determine whether those predictive numbers translate into a larger defensive role.
Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings 5) Carson Bruener
Carson Bruener: Elite Coverage Potential

It used to be Mark Robinson that I felt was going to emerge as a Steelers’ great at inside linebacker. Robinson never materialized and now the same affinity is bestowed on Carson Bruener.

Bruener also fell short of PFF's qualifying snap requirement, but his Stable Metrics reveal one of the more intriguing profiles in Pittsburgh's linebacker room. His overall coverage numbers ranked among the very best, highlighted by elite production while aligned inside the box.

Bruener posted 98th-percentile marks in both overall coverage grade and coverage from the box, showing impressive instincts and awareness against the passing game. His lack of slot experience resulted in a 0th-percentile mark there, while run-stop production also remains an area that requires development.

Carson Bruener's PFF Stable Metrics
- Coverage Grade - 98th percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Box - 98th percentile
- Coverage Grade in the Slot - 0th percentile
- Forced Incompletion Percentage - 11th percentile
- Run Defense Grade - 61st percentile
- Run Stop Percentage - 0th percentile
Bruener’s Player Outlook

Bruener's coverage ability jumps off the page. If he earns more defensive snaps, improving his run consistency will be the next step toward becoming a complete linebacker.
Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings
Steelers Inside Linebackers Overall

Coverage Grade
- Carson Bruener - 98th
- Cole Holcomb - 83rd
- Payton Wilson - 23rd
- Patrick Queen - 16th
- Malik Harrison - 10th
Coverage Grade in the Box
- Carson Bruener - 98th
- Cole Holcomb - 73rd
- Payton Wilson - 17th
- Patrick Queen - 15th
- Malik Harrison - 8th
Coverage Grade in the Slot
- Cole Holcomb -89th
- Patrick Queen - 45th
- Payton Wilson - 36th
- Malik Harrison - 14th
- Carson Bruener - 0th
Forced Incompletion Percentage
- Patrick Queen - 18th
- Payton Wilson - 14th
- Cole Holcomb - 11th (tied)
- Carson Bruener - 11th (tied)
- Malik Harrison - 11th (tied)
Run Defense Grade
- Cole Holcomb - 70th
- Carson Bruener - 61st
- Malik Harrison - 37th
- Patrick Queen - 20th
- Payton Wilson - 17th
Steelers Inside Linebackers

Run Stop Percentage
- Cole Holcomb - 61st
- Malik Harrison - 55th
- Payton Wilson - 38th
- Patrick Queen - 25th
- Carson Bruener - 0th
Steelers Inside Linebacker PFF Rankings
Projecting the Position Through PFF's Most Predictive Data

Countdown to Latrobe
- July 8 - Safeties
- July 9 - Offensive Line
- July 10 - Defensive Line
- July 11 - Cornerbacks
- July 12 - Inside Linebackers
- July 13 - Outside Linebackers
- July 14 -Running Backs
- July 16 - Tight Ends
- July 17 - Wide Receivers
- July 20 - Quarterbacks
- July 21 - Specialists (K, P, LS)
- July 22 - Final 53-Man Thoughts
As we continue our Steelers Training Camp Countdown, we shift our attention to the linebacker room using PFF's Stable Metrics. They’re statistics designed to better project future performance than traditional overall grades.

One important distinction deserves mention before diving into the individual players.

Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener actually finished with higher overall PFF defensive grades than several of their teammates. However, neither logged enough qualifying snaps to be included among PFF's 88 qualified NFL linebackers, meaning they were excluded from the league-wide rankings despite posting respectable grades in limited opportunities.

Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson and Malik Harrison all met the minimum snap requirement, allowing their stable metrics to be measured against every qualified linebacker in football.

For this series, we'll evaluate every projected contributor through the same lens. Coverage ability, run defense and the predictive metrics PFF believes translate best from one season to the next.

PFF Grades
- 5 Patrick Queen | 79 of 88
- 1Payton Wilson | 65 of 88
- 0 Malik Harrison | 62 of 88
- 6 Cole Holcomb*
- 6 Carson Bruener*
Remember these are just the grades. Expand to the PFF Stable Metrics by sliding the screen.

Jul 13 7:00 PM

SpreadMoneyTotal

LAS

+7.5

+250

O 180.5

ATL

-7.5

-325

U 180.5

Jul 13 9:00 PM

SpreadMoneyTotal

PHX

+13.5

+520

O 169.5

MIN

-13.5

-800

U 169.5

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