Pittsburgh made some splash moves in free agency this year. Even with the big names at QB now calling the Steel City home, perhaps the biggest signing was actually Patrick Queen. The Steelers just aren’t the Steelers unless the linebacker unit is breathing fire and destroying cities. The last few years have been lacking on the inside positions and outside depth, be it limited player ability, or the injuries that devastated the group last season. Patrick Queen is a double bonus, fortifying the position plus also weakening the Ravens.

There is another lesser talked about player that might fit that same description in Jeremiah Moon. The Steelers claimed him off waivers from Baltimore way back in January when the Ravens had to create a place for Mark Andrews. I don’t think Baltimore wanted to lose Moon, but the Steelers grabbed him as soon as his name hit the wire. Mike Tomlin must have remembered Moon’s performance in the two games he played against Pittsburgh where he had five tackles and two forced fumbles.

There have been some rumblings coming out of OTAs about Moon, so some investigation is in order. As a young child, Jeremiah was severely bow-legged and had to wear braces so restrictive that they caused a fracture in his back. Once the braces came off, Moon found out he was fast, blowing away the other kids on the T-ball field. All reports point to a high character kid that was just as talented singing and telling jokes as he was on the gridiron and baseball field.

The film from his days at the University of Florida shows that speed. He looked like the fastest player on the field once he switched to the linebacker position. Watching his first start in the NFl against the Colts, his length and speed were again very evident. He constantly created space using his long arms to knock back the offensive tackles trying to block him, and he was making whoever was in front of him work hard every down. Every cutup of action I found, Moon was flying. He might be raw and still learning the position, but this kid is all effort all the time. He created disruption in the backfield and also set the edge forcing running plays inside in several clips.

Sack by Jeremiah Moon 😈 (@jmoonvii) #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/VcvOKOXPcP

— Nate Wiggins SZN (@TheDailyRaven) August 22, 2023

Having Moon and Herbig coming in to give Watt and Highsmith a blow would be like setting two Tasmanian Devils loose on the field. Wherever you point them, they will be getting there in a hurry, and probably breaking a lot of you-know-what on the way.

First things first, he has to make the roster. Given his high revving motor and quickness, he should be a lock for special teams. T.J. Watt made the comment that he feels old for the first time. He should feel old as many snaps as he has had to play. It would be a perfect situation if there were young and inexpensive depth pieces to keep T.J. fresh and injury free for a season. Then with Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, and the rookie Payton Wilson subbing in to create havoc in the middle, the Steelers linebackers group could be putting the steel back in the curtain.

Will there be a Moon over Pittsburgh this season? He’s a high character, high motor kid that has overcome some pretty incredible odds to be here, so I’m rooting for it. And if he steps in and makes some plays, say against a team in purple, it will be all the sweeter.