Zach Frazier Mason McCormick
Zach Frazier Mason McCormick
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers can be a hard player to earn respect from. But two of his teammates on the offensive line in Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick are players that Rodgers went out of his way to praise on Movin’ The Chains on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Rodgers said he believes Frazier has a bright future in the league while praising McCormick’s leadership abilities.
“I came in last year, and I’ve never been around a center who could pick up the cadence that quickly. They were absolutely incredible. Zach [Frazier] is one of the finest guys. He’s got a chance to be a really special player in the league for a long time. And Mason McCormick is one of the better young leaders I’ve ever been around. We moved him to left guard, he’s a fantastic player. But better than that, he really cares about it,” Rodgers said. “I love 66 and what he’s about.”
Rodgers also talked about the youth of the offensive line and the role he can take in mentoring them.
“Everybody’s young. Troy’s young, Zach’s young, Spencer [Anderson]’s young. And whoever’s playing right tackle is gonna be young. But they got a great line coach, multiple line coaches, and I’m gonna stay on them.”
Both Frazier and McCormick were taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, with the Steelers taking Frazier in the second round and McCormick in the fourth round. Frazier quickly ascended into one of the best centers in the NFL and has the potential to be the best in the league. McCormick took a huge step forward last season and has developed into a quality starting guard.
McCormick isn’t someone usually put into the category of a leader. While it’s been clear from Day 1 that he always has his teammates’ backs on the field, he’s not often talked about as part of the Steelers’ leadership group. Obviously, Rodgers sees McCormick up close on a day-to-day basis and sees how he acts and how he leads the room.
For a young offensive line, a strong leader is necessary, and it sounds like that’s a role that McCormick has embraced and taken hold of in the room. He’s on an upward trajectory as a player, and his move to left guard keeps him next to Troy Fautanu, giving him a level of comfort as he returns to his collegiate position.
It’s clear that Frazier and McCormick are important pieces in the Steelers’ locker room and on the field. To earn that level of praise from Rodgers shows how special they are, and both should have a big impact on Pittsburgh’s success this season.