Exit Meeting: OL Andrus Peat
Experience: 11 Years
Andrus Peat was a late addition to the roster in training camp, but could he return with a larger role for the Steelers in 2026? With Broderick Jones injured and Isaac Seumalo set to leave in free agency, there are openings. Not necessarily in the starting lineup—though possibly—but certainly for depth.
Andrus Peat is capable of playing both guard and tackle, and he played both in limited action for the Steelers last year. Most of his NFL playing history is at guard, where Pittsburgh has a projected vacancy. Isaac Seumalo, who has started at left guard the past three years, is expected to leave in free agency. He has already agreed to terms on a deal paying him eight figures per year, more than Pittsburgh would pay.
Right now, the Steelers’ only internal option to replace Seumalo is Spencer Anderson, who has made a few spot starts. They reportedly intend to sign a veteran to start, but until they do, they have to keep their options open. And with uncertainty at both guard and tackle, a versatile veteran like Andrus Peat makes a lot of sense.
He may not be a young pup anymore—he turns 33 in November—but last year showed that Peat still has some snaps left in him. At a minimum, he could be your ninth lineman, even your eighth lineman. But the Steelers shouldn’t sign him to a deal that they can’t get out of.
Say Pittsburgh signs a starting guard, and Broderick Jones is healthy for the start of the 2026 season. You have Dylan Cook, Spencer Anderson, and presumably Ryan McCollum as backups. Then you factor in a draft pick, and that’s nine offensive linemen right there. Where does Andrus Peat fit, and could he replace any of them? I don’t think so.
And frankly, if the Steelers end up with Peat and Anderson competing to start at left guard, they did something wrong. But if he were on the practice squad? That would be hard to say no to.
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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