Currently, the Pittsburgh Steelers have two offensive linemen vying to replace Isaac Seumalo as the team’s starting left guard along the offensive line: Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman. Mike McCarthy hopes to expand the competition. Speaking to reporters Monday, McCarthy outlined his future vision for the position.
“I think we’ve got really good veteran competition,” he said via Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley. “It’s a group that I’d obviously like to add some young guys to that role. And really, I feel like I can say that throughout our whole roster. I thought we did a good job getting players, so we can add through the draft. You cannot have enough good players.”
Anderson is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Pittsburgh’s seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he has primarily been a backup. He has also spot-started when injuries, especially to Seumalo, have happened.
Last year, Anderson held a key role as a sixth offensive lineman and formed a unique duo, aligned next to TE Darnell Washington. He finished second league-wide in “tackle-eligible” snaps.
Hoffman reunites with McCarthy after spending several seasons together in Dallas. Inked to a one-year deal, Hoffman offers interior versatility. He has mostly played center, but he has over 100 NFL snaps, preseason and regular season, at left guard. A rugged run blocker, Hoffman could fit into Pittsburgh’s system.
Clearly, McCarthy isn’t keeping it a two-man race. Pittsburgh seems certain to draft a guard sooner rather than later. That could come as early as the first round. Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane falling to No. 21 would be similar to Stanford’s David DeCastro dropping to the Steelers in 2012. From a grade and talent perspective, he’d be difficult to pass.
If the Steelers don’t address the position on Thursday night, Rounds 2-3 could be the sweet spot. This year’s draft offers plenty of guard depth: Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon, Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis, Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge, and Notre Dame’s Bill Schrauth are just some options, and that’s without considering tackle-conversions like Iowa’s Gennings Dunker and Boise State’s Kage Casey.
With Broderick Jones getting an optimistic status report and Dylan Cook playing well in relief late last season, the Steelers should feel comfortable at tackle to avoid drafting the position early. Guard’s a different story. Whenever the franchise focuses on offensive trenches, it’s likely to be the first place Omar Khan, Mike McCarthy, and company will look.
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