Exit Meeting: OL Spencer Anderson
Experience: 3 Years
Is Spencer Anderosn a starter in waiting—and how much longer will he have to wait, if at all, if that is indeed the case? With starting LG Isaac Seumalo hitting free agency, Anderson would be the next man up on the 53-man roster. Of course, the Steelers could very well sign another veteran free agent to take over, but they do like him.
A 2023 seventh-round pick, Spencer Anderson took distant second billing from first-round pick Broderick Jones. Jones’ future is currently in doubt as he comes off a neck injury, but Anderson’s is not. At the very least, he is a prized backup and has a niche role as a sixth lineman.
Over the past three seasons, Anderson has started 11 games, though that includes some starts as a tackle-eligible tight end. He has logged 692 offensive snaps over the past two seasons, including 382 last year. And he even managed to catch a pass, which is better than not catching it, I suppose.
The Steelers have a generally very young offensive line. In the past, they had been known to develop late-round and even undrafted free agents into starters. That was largely under Mike Munchak, but Pat Meyer had some success. 2024 fourth-rounder Mason McCormick, a small-school player, came in almost right away and played like a starter. Now Pittsburgh has respected OL coach James Campen, and he has turned players like Spencer Anderosn into starters in the past.
If the Steelers don’t re-sign Isaac Seumalo, they could look to add a veteran to compete with Anderson to start. In the worst-case scenario, they will secure valuable depth. With OC Arthur Smith gone, though, it’s too early to say what their vision is for the tackle-eligible role.
Last season, the Steelers exploited a “Jumbo” package featuring Spencer Anderson and TE Darnell Washington as big-bodied blockers, usually on one side of the formation. It was a look out of which they were willing to throw the ball, too. If Anderson is starting, they would have to find somebody else. But you can’t keep your best option out of the starting lineup to run a niche sub-package, either.
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves licking their wounds after yetanother early playoff exit. This is a repeated pattern for the organization, but with major change coming. As the Steelers conduct their own exit meetings, we willgo down the roster conducting our own. Who should stay, and who should go, and how? Who should expect a bigger role next season, and who might deserve a new contract? The resignation of Mike Tomlin makes those questions much more difficult to answer, but much more important. We’ll explore those questions and more in these articles, part of an annual series.
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