O-line finally taking shape after selections
Three linemen drafted for first time since 2012
Every time Steelers general manager Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl are asked about their roster rebuild, it’s never long before they mention their desire to play a physical brand of football and do it first and foremost from the trenches. Since they took over for former GM Kevin Colbert following the 2022 draft, their commitment to remaking the offensive line room has been priority No. 1.
The Steelers completed the 2024 draft on Saturday, and one of the big takeaways was the attention paid to the offensive line. The Steelers selected three offensive linemen in the same draft for the first time since 2012. And for the first time in nearly 50 years, three of their top five picks were offensive linemen.
On Saturday, they used their fourth-round pick on South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick, who joined tackle Troy Fautanu and center Zach Frazier after they were taken in the first and second rounds. The previous time the Steelers selected three offensive linemen in their first five picks was 1976, when they drafted Ray Pinney and James Files in the second round and Ron Coder in the third round.
That makes five offensive linemen drafted in the past two years. Broderick Jones was the first-round pick, and Spencer Anderson was a seventh-round pick last year. Jones ended up starting 11 games at right tackle while Anderson, who can play all five positions on the line, stayed on the 53-man roster all season.
“Wewanted to continue to become youthful at that position,” offensive line coach Pat Meyer said.
And, obviously, better. That’s a big component of this, as well.
While the line play improved in the second half of last season, it remained a weakness. It’s been that way for half a decade now.
The Steelers haven’t had a dominant offensive line since the days when Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro were in their primes. When they retired following the 2020 season, the Steelers didn’t use premium draft resources to replace them.
Colbert tried to get players such as Kendrick Green, Kevin Dotson and Dan Moore in the middle rounds of the draft, but none of them developed into quality starters with the Steelers. Green and Dotson didn’t play out their rookie contracts, and Moore likely will finish his rookie contract this year as a backup.
Khan and Weidl are fixing those mistakes by investing premium draft resources into the position, and there will be opportunities for Fautanu and Frazier to start early in their careers.
Since Khan and Weidl took over the personnel department, the only holdovers from the Colbert regime on the offensive line are Moore and starting right guard James Daniels. While guard was not an immediate need for the Steelers in this draft, they likely will need a new starter in 2025.
Daniels is entering the final year of his contract, and guards struck it rich in free agency this year with some record-breaking contracts. The price might be too steep to retain him on another contract.
In addition, Nate Herbig, the top backup at guard and center last season, also is entering the final year of his deal.
The last time the Steelers drafted three offensive linemen (2012), all three started games for them. DeCastro (first round), Mike Adams (second round) and Kelvin Beachum (seventh round) each made some big contributions as rookies.
“Games are won in the trenches,” Meyer said. “That’s true. I know it’s a cliche, but it’s got to start up front. And they’re going to add to a room that we’ve been working on for a few years here now. That’s going to just add to that group and into that room. It’s going to be great. It’s going to be awesome.”