The Steelers finally signed veteran OL Brock Hoffman to a contract after much speculation—but what will he actually do? There are no official reports yet, but some claim it is a one-year, $2.5 million contract. After losing starting LG Isaac Seumalo in free agency, will he be in the mix there? Veteran beat writer Mark Kaboly shared his perspective about where the new lineman fits in.
“They’re bringing him in to be a rotational guy right now, but I would imagine he would have the opportunity to start”, he said on 93.7 The Fan. “He played a lot in Dallas. I think he mostly played center in Dallas, as I recall. Just a solid depth piece that has an opportunity. if Spencer Anderson does not pan out how they’re projecting him to pan out, they’ve got Brock Hoffman. And you need depth along that offensive line”.
A former college free agent in 2022 out of Virginia Tech, Brock Hoffman has four years under his belt. But he only had three accrued NFL season, logging just three games as a rookie. Over the past three seasons, he has started 16 games, playing 1,212 snaps.
While he has mostly played at center, Hoffman has a good deal of experience at guard, as well. He did play center collegiately as well, but the bottom line is he is a versatile player. So, too, is Spencer Anderson for that matter, even if he wishes to focus on guard.
The Steelers drafted Anderson in the seventh round in 2023 and he has steadily worked his way up. Although then-rookie Mason McCormick quickly surpassed him in 2024, he has done well for himself when given the opportunity to start. In Brock Hoffman, however, the Steelers now have a player with a little more playing experience. And he also has familiarity with new HC Mike McCarthy’s offense.
Which is why the Steelers were attracted to him, of course, or at least one of the reasons. The only surprise about the early reports of interest was the fact that Hoffman was a restricted free agent. Dallas ended up not tendering him, so the Steelers were eventually able to sign him.
“It’s a little bit too much of a coincidence of that not being able to talk and then it being a deal two weeks later”, Kaboly said of the early talk about Hoffman. “Something must have been in the works at that point. The Steelers may have said, ‘We’re coming back to you depending on what we can find’”.
Whatever happened, Brock Hoffman is now with the Steelers. At the very least, he will provide quality depth, but will he end up starting? Their offensive line is in place from center to right tackle, but the left side is unstable.
Pittsburgh figures to have a competition at left tackle assuming Broderick Jones is healthy. Dylan Cook played well in his place, but he has a small sample size. Seumalo has been the left guard for the past three years, so that’s the big opening. Anderson has some experience starting in his place, but can Hoffman beat him out? Or will a potential draft pick come in and claim the job right away?
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