How high should offensive line be on the Steelers’ draft board in the first round?
The Steelers have at least one starting job open on the offensive line, and potentially two, so how does the draft unfold? With Isaac Seumalo leaving in free agency, they need a starting left guard. Whether that’s Spencer Anderson or somebody else, it’s a question they need to answer. And then there’s the question of left tackle, including Broderick Jones’ health.
Given these variables, how strongly should the Steelers be considering offensive line in the first round? Not necessarily just guard, but potentially tackle, as well? Jones is a free agent after this season unless they pick up his fifth-year option, which is unlikely. And if he’s healthy, he still has to prove himself—as would Dylan Cook, for the Cookheads out there.
From center to right tackle, the Steelers appear to be really solid along the offensive line. Consisting of three draft picks from 2024, they could have a core there for years to come. But could the Steelers go offensive line in the first round again, for the third time in four drafts? If it’s the best player on their board when they pick—then sure, why not?
The only argument against that, I would imagine, is the fact that the Steelers have enough draft picks that they could theoretically use some to trade up and take a position other than offensive line. If they value a wide receiver or safety, for example, who won’t make it to them, why not move up?
The other argument for the first round is, the Steelers showed with Mason McCormick they can draft offensive linemen in later rounds. And they may have already done that, potentially, with Spencer Anderson. No offensive line needs five Pro Bowlers from tackle to tackle. The Steelers had Ramon Foster for years, and he was an important part of that group.
Ultimately, what most accomplishes the goal of making the team better? The Steelers don’t know that until draft night depending upon how the first round unfolds. They will have a draft board, though, with positional weighting. Where will the first offensive lineman fall in their ranking? What about the second, or third? With five picks in the third and fourth rounds, they may prefer to wait. At least for guard—left tackle might be a bigger question.
The Steelers exited the playoffs in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin resigning.
The NFL has crowned its latest champion, but for us and the Steelers, we have been in offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you coverloses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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