Steelers must trade for backup tackle
candidates for that position since the end of last season. Chris Hubbard, who performed that role superbly the past two years, signed a $37.5 million contract in March as a free agent to start at right tackle for the Cleveland Browns. He started nine games at right tackle last seasonfor an injured/suspended MarcusGilbert.
Hubbard’s departure moved Jerald Hawkins to No. 3, and he seemed ready to handle that role until a torn thigh muscle in the spring shelved him for the season. It will be the second season that Hawkins, a 2016 fourth-round draft pick, spends on injured reserve.
The following week the Steelers signed veteran tackle Bryce Harris, 29, to replace Hawkins. But they waived Harris with a nonfootball illness when he could not complete their run test on the first day of training camp.
That left them with rookie Chukwuma Okorafor, a third-round draft pick, veteran Matt Feiler (who is more a guard and center) and several others with scant pedigrees.
Okorafor has the talent to be a fine starting tackle some day, but it should not be this season; the Botswana native is still honing his craft. At the moment, either he or Feiler would start at left or right tackle if Alejandro Villanueva or Marcus Gilbert were hurt. And that could be a recipe for an injury to Roethlisberger.
Jake Rodgers, who turns 27 next month, has the most experience as a pro — other than Feiler — of all the backup tackles even though he has not played in an NFL game in his three seasons. The Steelers claimed him off waivers from Houston on May 18. He spent part of last season on the practice squads of the Steelers, San Diego Chargers and Texans and was released from them four times, twice by the Steelers. He also has been with the Falcons, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers in one form or another since Atlanta drafted him in the seventh round from Eastern Washington in 2015. The other backup tackles: • Larson Graham, a Duquesne University product who signed with the Steelers in April; he spent last preseason with Atlanta as an undrafted rookie.
• Joe Cheek, signed April 18 after Cleveland waived him in March. He is with his fifth NFL team since he signed with New Orleans as an undrafted rookie in 2016. He has not made a 53-man roster.
• Kyle Meadows, an drafted rookie from Kentucky.
Maybe line coach Mike Munchak will work his magic and help turn someone into a capable backup by the time the Steelers open the season Sept. 9 at Cleveland. Maybe Villanueva and Gilbert will not miss a game. But if someone does not surface as a reliable No. 3, the Steelers will need to go get one.
They traded for players in training camps past, or later. Last Aug. 23, the Steelers swapped for Redskins cornerback Dashaun Phillips. Last Aug. 29, they traded for 49ers tight end Vance McDonald. They acquired cornerback Brandon Boykin from the Eagles three years ago on Aug. 1. In October 2013, they traded for offensive tackle Levi Brown from Arizona.
That McDonald might be the only one of those four trades to work out for the Steelers should not stop them from going after a tackle now. A decent veteran might not surface on cutdown day next month, and not having a No. 3 tackle who could capably replace an injured starter could endanger Roethlisberger and a 2018 season brimming with promise.