The Pittsburgh Steelers should get Broderick Jones back healthy in 2026 after a season-ending neck injury in Week 12, and young left tackle Dylan Cook played well late in the season in his first NFL action.
But under new offensive line coaches James Campen and Jahri Evans, the Steelers could theoretically search for an upgrade at left tackle.
For Pro Football Focus, that upgrade could be one of the top pending free agent offensive tackles in Green Bay’s Rasheed Walker.
In a piece highlighting the best landing spots for the top free agent offensive tackles, the Steelers were tabbed as the best landing spot for Walker, who is just 25 years old.
“Walker has excelled as a pass protector across three seasons as the Packers’ starting left tackle, earning a 69.0-plus PFF pass-blocking grade in each. He’s been particularly effective on quick passing concepts, with his 84.4 PFF pass-blocking grade on three-step drops ranking sixth among all qualifying tackles over the span,” PFF writes. “That ability would fit well with the Steelers, particularly if Aaron Rodgers decides to return to the Steel City with Mike McCarthy named as the new head coach.
“In 2025, [Aaron] Rodgers posted the fourth-fastest average time to throw (2.59) among quarterbacks with at least 200 dropbacks.”
Rodgers seems like a near lock to return to Pittsburgh and reunite with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy late in his career. Things didn’t end well in 2025 for Rodgers, throwing a pick-six on his final pass in the Wild Card blowout loss to the Houston Texans and getting bruised and battered throughout the night by an elite pass rush.
Though he consistently got the football out quickly last season, there were times he held onto the football in an effort to make plays down the field. The offensive line, for the most part, held up well. But in that playoff loss, the Steelers largely had no shot.
So, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the Steelers tried to upgrade in the trenches, especially with Isaac Seumalo a pending free agent. But adding a left tackle — and one who is projected to receive a nice payday like Walker — would be surprising.
PFF projects Walker to land a four-year, $84 million deal in free agency with $51 million guaranteed.
Last season, Walker played 1,057 snaps in the regular season and postseason combined and allowed 40 pressures and five sacks. He graded out at a 69.3 in pass protection. Walker has played 3,170 career snaps and has allowed just 113 pressures and 13 sacks in four seasons after being a seventh-round pick out of Penn State.
Jones reportedly had neck surgery at some point after his Week 12 injury against the Chicago Bears, and there is concern about his health moving forward. There is also the question about what the Steelers will do with his fifth-year option.
Cook stepped in late in the year and provided Pittsburgh with serviceable play. One former Steelers offensive lineman in Trai Essex even believes Cook is the starter entering the offseason.
But that could all change if the Steelers pursue Walker.
“While there is still time for former first-round pick Broderick Jones to develop at just 25 years old, his struggles at both left and right tackle create the need for Pittsburgh to evaluate possible upgrades,” Cameron writes. “The Steelers can afford to splurge on protection with the top free-agent tackle, currently projected to hold the ninth-most cap space ($44.94 million) this offseason.
“The addition of Walker would provide an immediate plug-and-play starter at left tackle.”
Walker would be an immediate upgrade, but is that the type of upgrade the Steelers need on the offensive side of the football right now?
They’ve invested heavily in the trenches in recent years, and the young offensive line came together nicely last season. The Steelers have upgraded their coaching along the offensive line, that much is certain. And the talent is there.
But you can never invest enough in the offensive line in today’s NFL.
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