4 players who wouldn’t offer the Steelers anything special in 2021

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell (24). Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell (24). Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) under center Pittsburgh Steelers center J.C. Hassenauer (60). Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Steelers Center J.C. Hassenuaer

Despite J.C. Hassenauer’s surprise appearance atop Pittsburgh’s initial 2021 depth chart, Kendrick Green has already been taking a majority of first-team reps with the Steelers and I fully expect him to land the starting center job. Hassnauer got the chance to see the field in the regular season last year for the first time since entering the league in 2018. Unfortunately, what we saw was quite unspectacular.

Hassenauer earned an average pass-block grade from Pro Football Focus last year but graded out as a bad run blocker. There isn’t much to get excited about with his game, as the 4th-year center is a bit undersized with a poor athletic profile.

More importantly, B.J. Finney has proven in the past that he is capable of manning any position across the interior of the offensive line, and has performed quite well filling in for Maurkice Pouncey in the past. His versatility makes Hassenauer expendable.

Instead of rostering two players who could back up the center position in the event of an injury or poor play from Kendrick Green, Pittsburgh would be wise to use J.C. Hassenauer’s roster spot to secure a more talented player at a different position.