Team needs don't influence player availability.
The EDGE class may be deep with bodies, but it's weak at the top. Plus, many of these guys are DEs and not OLBs. And many don't fit the length requirement that was mentioned by Snead with Floyd.
Anyway, there is a chance that early on the best player on their board might be an off the ball linebacker too good to pass on. That coupled with the team hiring a new defensive coordinator whose past LBs offered a bit more speed makes it possible.
IMO, anything Howard provides the team should just be icing on the cake. Yes, he was injured last year, but the guy is entering his 4th season and hasn't done much of anything to date.
BTW, they raved about Kiser last off season, but, IMO, he was outplayed by Reeder.