While the Steelers have some questions along the offensive line, they may also already have the answers on the roster. Of course, that’s what they hope, given what they’ve invested in the unit in recent years. Broderick Jones’ injury threw them a curveball, but they have options, even for the loss of Isaac Seumalo.
Thus far, the most obvious change the Steelers have made is moving Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick from the right side of the offensive line to the left. At this point, it appears to be permanent and part of the plan. Zach Frazier is the center, as he has been since his very first game. That leaves the right guard and right tackle positions up for grabs, with no true incumbent at either position.
Broderick Jones was the starter opposite Fautanu until his neck injury, but it’s unclear when he’ll be healthy enough to even compete for a job. Dylan Cook filled in admirably, but was the Steelers’ fourth option in the offensive line room. Calvin Anderson had already gone down, and then Andrus Peat suffered a concussion. Now he has rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor breathing down his neck.
Spencer Anderson has run with the Steelers’ starting offensive line this spring, but has never been a starter. He has started a handful of games due to injury, previously losing a chance to start full-time to McCormick. But Pittsburgh added free agent Brock Hoffman, and then drafted Gennings Dunker in the third round. So how will it all shake out for the start of the regular season?
“The Steelers opened offseason workouts with Spencer Anderson at right guard and Dylan Cook at right tackle”, Mike DeFabo wrote. “There was no movement on the depth chart throughout the spring. Now, the new coaching staff hasn’t seen them in person with pads on yet, but here in the middle of June, I’d project Anderson and Cook to start Day 1”.
Of course, things could change over the course of the regular season. In 2023, the Steelers eventually replaced Chukwuma Okorafor to insert then-rookie Broderick Jones into the starting offensive line. We could see the same with Iheanachor at some point this season, though Dylan Cook could also hold him off.
The Steelers have, in my opinion, a more comforting set of options at tackle than at guard, which could be the weak point of the offensive line. Cook played well enough at the end of last season to the point where you would probably feel good about Iheanachor if he beat him out. But how much would anybody celebrate if Spencer Anderson won the job he lost to Mason McCormick two years ago?
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