You don’t trade up in the first round for an inside linebacker if you don’t see him as a cornerstone of your defense, and that’s what the Pittsburgh Steelers did last year in order to get Devin Bush. Once he went down with a torn ACL a couple of weeks ago, it was instantly obvious, of course, that he could not be replaced. But they still needed somebody.
While Robert Spillane has filled in for the past 10 quarters, the Steelers did make a trade for Avery Williamson; however, the coaches have signaled pretty outwardly that they are viewing him more as depth than anything else, trusting that Spillane can shoulder most of the load.