The Pittsburgh Steelers will need to work on their offensive line, especially the interior if they wish to improve the team.
The Steelers will be on the hunt for some help across their entire restructuring offensive line. The unit will be in flux again as they will lose starters from the previous season to free agency. They tried to address this issue last year by putting a band-aid on it and that did not help.
The team will likely be losing players like Trai Turner and Chuks Okorafor in free agency and they could also move on from other backup players for this unit. Those are two starters possibly departing the team despite those two having difficult seasons in 2021. The team will need to look for replacements elsewhere.
Two opening spots to start for the black and gold will be the main focus but finding quality depth will also need to be found as well. Finding a starting guard and tackle will be the top priority unless the team can upgrade at center and shove Kendrick Green to guard. That would be the ideal situation but the club will likely try and give Green’s experiment at center another go around.
Honorable mentions
Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
Zion Johnson will be a player that could potentially raise his draft stock as time goes on. He is a big guy that has a ton of playing experience on the left side of the offensive line during his tenure at Boston College. He played mostly guard but Johnson has also played some at left tackle as well.
He screams physical run blocker when you watch him play football. His experience and potential to start at guard and plug into a tackle spot when needed will be a nice option to have on an NFL roster. Currently, this player is projected to go at some point during the second or third round.
Dohnovan West, OG/OC, Arizona State
Dohnovan West is declaring to enter the draft as a young prospect. He still has a lot of growth in his game but his size will give him a great opportunity to better his game as he transitions to the pro level. This player started all three years at Arizona State, his first two at guard and his last at center.
He was able to handle the transition well and this is a player that Steelers fans should keep a close eye on. His position flexibility will be interesting to Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert as they search for answers across the line. His youth and coachability will allow him to compete on day one and grow with the team. West is projected to go at some point between rounds three through five.
Darian Kinnard, OT/OG, Kentucky
Darian Kinnard is an interesting player coming out of college. He was one of the best run-blocking tackles in all of college football. That is impressive with the immense running attack that the Kentucky Wildcats executed in 2021.
Kinnard was a big part of their team that is coming off a great season. His ability to attack defenders and take them out of the play is ruthless. He will either be a tackle or guard at the next level but the team that selects him will need to determine that.
This player was the starter on the outside for Kentucky for years and now he will get a chance to transition to the professional level. Many see him best at guard and in need of some coaching but the Steelers would love to get a player like this. It won’t be easy because many teams will be searching for a prospect like him.
He has played the majority of his snaps at the right tackle spot for the Wildcats and that is exactly a position that Pittsburgh needs to fill. They also need someone inside and Kinnard could always kick to guard and excel there. He currently projects to be a second-round pick when the draft comes around.
Kenyon Green, OT/OG, Texas A&M
Kenyon Green is regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the 2022 draft class. He is expected to be selected as a guard even though he played at tackle in 2021. He has the experience and swiss-army knife trait with his ability to play every position across the offensive line.
This prospect has played every position during his time in college besides center. He played well during his time at Texas A&M and has decided to leave following his Junior year. His youth will give him more chances to grow as he gets older despite already having a mammoth frame.
Green could play any position at guard or even at right tackle depending on how a team decides to deploy him. His athleticism paired with his big frame will allow him to pull outside on run plays and create massive gaps for running backs to follow. This will be a solid starter in the NFL for years to come and someone the Steelers could select with the 20th overall selection.
It will depend on how the first 19 picks shake out but if available, the black and gold could come calling when it’s their turn. Green would be a huge addition to this reconstructed group. His ability to play across the front will be another welcomed addition and provides invaluable flexibility. This prospect is projected to go at some point in the middle of the first round.
Tyler Linderbaum, OC, Iowa
Tyler Linderbaum is the best center coming out of college football in many years. He is the best prospect at the position by a mile as he brings a complete game. The guy has the size, athleticism, and smarts to be a top player at center for years to come.
His position isn’t normally selected until the late portions of the first round or later but he has made conversations about being selected earlier than normal. Many expect him to go during the first 15 selections of the draft and potentially sooner. This player will be well worth a first-round pick from any team in desperate need of a starting center.
The Steelers will be one of those teams that are looking for any way of improving their offensive line and Linderbaum would make an immediate impact not just at center but a trickle-down effect. He will instill new growth in this group no matter who else plays alongside him. His ability to plug and play immediately and sliding a player like Kendrick Green over to guard will help more than many expect.
Right now this prospect will likely not fall to Pittsburgh on the first night of the draft but many fans should hope he does. This player could fix the offensive line almost instantaneously. Center is a very important position and the black and gold need to invest in this player if he is still on the board at pick 20.
The Steelers have a lot of moves to make in the spots in between their tackles. The offensive trenches need to improve and draft investment might be one of the best options in 2022.