Many analysts are warning teams to wait until next year to draft a quarterback in the first round. If the Pittsburgh Steelers do that, then they should instead spend their first pick this year on an offensive lineman. Some people might call that boring, but that doesn’t make it wrong.
Ben Roethlisberger said that the Steelers should build up the rest of their roster before drafting their next potential franchise quarterback, and I’m inclined to agree. Yes, Roethlisberger was the missing piece for the 2000’s Steelers to become Super Bowl champions. However, the current Steelers aren’t a quarterback away from being contenders.
The Steelers’ starting offensive line when they drafted Roethlisberger consisted of Marvel Smith, Alan Faneca, Jeff Hartings, Keydrick Vincent, and Oliver Ross. That group includes a Pro Bowler, an All-Pro, and a Hall of Famer. Also, 2002 first-round pick Kendall Simmons should’ve started at guard over Vincent, but he missed that entire season with an injury.
The Steelers’ offensive line has some solid pieces already. Zach Frazier looks like a stud at center, and Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu have shown much promise, too. However, Pittsburgh still has holes up front.
First, veteran guard Isaac Seumalo is a free agent. He’s been with the Steelers since 2023, and he’s been steady when healthy. But he’ll turn 33 during the season, and he’s battled injuries in recent years. Therefore, it’s likely that the Steelers could move on from him, leaving them with a hole at left guard.
Also, the Steelers’ left tackle position is still in flux. Broderick Jones was their starter last year, but a neck injury in Week 12 knocked him out for the season. He was still very up-and-down before that, too.
Dylan Cook replaced Jones, and he looked good in four starts, especially considering that was his first regular-season action. However, there’s no telling if Cook can repeat that performance. The Steelers’ new coaching staff also likely won’t want to hand the starting left tackle job to Cook, a former undrafted free agent.
That leaves the Steelers with two big question marks up front, but the draft could provide them with answers. Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane looks like the top guard prospect, and that position is often undervalued in the draft, so perhaps he could slide into Pittsburgh’s range.
There’s a narrative that Vega Ioane (320+ lbs) is strictly a mauler and not a fit for zone / not impactful on the move.
The tape says otherwise. Plenty of reps this year showing functional mobility, angles, and second-level effectiveness. pic.twitter.com/yLxFBF361h
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) February 16, 2026
Offensive tackles tend to come off the board sooner, but there’s a decent group the Steelers could consider. Miami’s Francis Mauigoa and Utah’s Spencer Fano have both mostly been right tackles, and the Steelers’ hole is on the left side. But that hasn’t stopped them from taking a player they like before.
There are other intriguing tackle prospects, too, such as Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Utah’s Caleb Lomu, and Clemson’s Blake Miller.
The point is that the Steelers should have options if the offensive line is still a need for them when round one starts. They need a quarterback, but sticking a rookie behind a suspect offensive line is asking for trouble. The Steelers should shore that group up this year so that they don’t need to worry about it going forward. Then, they can give whoever their quarterback is their best chance at success.
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