Last year, the offensive line entered the season as possibly the most vital position group on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster. Although there were some early struggles, that unit did about as well as could be expected. With some reinforcements this offseason, Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice isn’t short on optimism for the group.
“I have the Steelers’ O-line up there, too. People are kinda getting there, but like, they got multiple really good players,” Tice said Tuesday on his Football 301 podcast, naming the unit one of the league’s most underrated position groups. “The O-line kind of gets waved away, ’cause it’s not one of those sexy offenses that puts up huge huge numbers… But this is a legit, legit O-line, even if they do have question marks. Because Troy Fautanu’s good, Mason McCormick’s good, and I think Zach Frazier is an All-Pro-caliber kind of guy. They’ll figure out the right side a little bit this year.”
The Steelers’ offense wasn’t “sexy” last year, but the line did its best considering the circumstances. Troy Fautanu was impressive in his first full season at the NFL level. On the interior, Tice mentions Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick, who each looked impressive in their own second years. Even Broderick Jones took some steps forward before going down with a season-ending neck injury. And once he left, his replacement, Dylan Cook, held his own as well.
Losing Isaac Seumalo to free agency and having Jones’ health in question did give the Steelers some problems to solve this offseason. Those were answered with Max Iheanachor at the 21st overall pick, and Gennings Dunker in the third. While neither may become an opening-day starter, the Steelers will be loaded with young talent on the offensive line if it pans out as well as the team hopes.
Most of the question marks Tice mentions involve the game of musical chairs the unit is playing this offseason. Jones’ health is in question, and Iheanachor played right tackle in college, so Fautanu seems bound to move to the left side. He may be joined by McCormick, who’s taking reps at left guard so far this offseason. Right guard may be up for grabs between Dunker, Brock Hoffman and Spencer Anderson. And while Iheanachor may prove himself ready to start during training camp, Cook is a security blanket at right tackle.
Aside from Frazier, that’s a lot of shifting across the unit. But while it’s a new position this year, it’s not brand new for all the players. Fautanu has left tackle experience from college, just as Cook does on the right side. While McCormick has been steady at right guard, he played on the left side in college. Most of the players who could change positions will at least have had some experience in that spot.
Training camp and the preseason will tell us a lot about the unit’s status for 2026. But one thing is for sure: the Steelers have a lot of young talent on their offensive line. Talent that will show up in 2026, Tice believes.