As we’ve done in previous years, we’re taking a look at Pittsburgh Steelers under Reserve/Futures contracts for the 2025 offseason — the ones who spent most of, if not the entire year, on the practice squad — and what we can expect from them during training camp and (hopefully) into the regular season. Today, here is an outlook on OL Doug Nester.
Doug Nester/OL West Virginia – 6066, 308 pounds
The seas are parting for guys like Doug Nester. Pittsburgh’s lost multiple offensive linemen to free agency with Dan Moore Jr., James Daniels, and even Nate Herbig signing elsewhere. These moves weren’t shocks and the Steelers are confident they have starting replacements. But depth, a strength a season ago, now looks like a weakness. There’s nothing at tackle and the minimum at guard and center in Spencer Anderson and Ryan McCollum.
Enter Nester. Zach Frazier’s teammate at West Virginia, Pittsburgh hitched him to its practice squad at the start of the regular season following Nester’s summer stint with the Minnesota Vikings. Even as injuries piled up, Nester remained on the taxi squad for the entirety of the season. Following their playoff loss, the Steelers signed him to a Futures contract.
In college, Nester split time at guard and tackle. A guard to begin his career at Virginia Tech, he transferred to West Virginia and kicked out to right tackle for 2023.
Nester has size and is borderline on length with 33-inch arms, meaning he could float between guard and tackle. A little similar, though a little oversized compared to Spencer Anderson. In the preseason with Minnesota, he exclusively played right tackle.
On the Steelers’ radar since before the 2024 draft, Nester’s finally on their roster. He’s largely unknown and we haven’t gotten eyes on him in a Pittsburgh uniform. There’s plenty to learn. Being able to stick at tackle is his best-case scenario, potentially making him a viable No. 3 option behind Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu. Obstacles to overcome include a lack of left tackle experience and the presence of Dylan Cook, who has played both spots during his two years in Pittsburgh.
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