With Steelerstraining camp just around the corner, we turn our focus to the roster andthe battles ahead of us over the summer. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be taking a closer look at some of the roster battles that we expect to see unfold over the course of training camp as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the start of the 2026 season.
This year, the Steelers seem to have most of their major battles settled before training camp. Outside of the offensive line, the rest of the starting lineup seems to be in order. There are other contributing roles to sort out, of course, like the third wide receiver. But perhaps more than most recent years, this is more jockeying for roles and depth, and not who is starting.
Position: Offensive Line
Up for Grabs: Depth
In the Mix: Broderick Jones, Gennings Dunker, Ryan McCollum, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Brock Hoffman, Greg Crippen, Steven Jones, Dough Nester, Lorenzo Thompson, Jack Driscoll
Basically, everybody who isn’t already clearly a starter or a rookie first-round pick falls into this category for the Steelers entering training camp. In other words, everybody but Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, and Max Iheanachor. The latter may not start, but he’s certainly not at risk of, well, anything. The rest—pretty much anything is up for grabs.
Anderson, Cook, Dunker, and Hoffman from this group will be competing for starting jobs on the Steelers’ offensive line during training camp. If healthy, Jones will, too, but that’s a big if. A former first-round pick and a player with significant starting experience, he is a wild card. At the very least, Pittsburgh would love to have him as a swing tackle.
One thing we’re not talking about enough, though, is center. Obviously, Frazier is the starter, but how will the Steelers determine their backup in training camp? McCollum has held the job the past two years, but Hoffman is the more experienced option. If Hoffman doesn’t win a starting guard job, does he displace McCollum—possibly right off the roster?
The Jones factor looms large, too, because if he isn’t healthy, the Steelers may be looking for another tackle in training camp. They have Driscoll, who has some experience. Anderson could play tackle in a pinch. Granted, usually your fourth tackle isn’t going to be a starter in waiting, either. But it is an area they may want to address, pending Jones’ availability.
The offensive line is always a good candidate for sleepers to emerge, too, and the Steelers have an experience coach in James Campen to oversee them. Cook is one example, but it used to be more common for Pittsburgh. Ramon Foster had a long career as a former college free agent. So if the Steelers need depth here, they may just find it in unexpected places over the course of training camp. So much of what this group will look like, though, ultimately hinges on Broderick Jones.
TE3, ILB3/playing time, wildcard (nickel)
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