Are the Steelers targeting the wrong center in free agency?

Reports suggest the Pittsburgh Steelers are targeting Ryan Jensen in free agency, but is Kevin Colbert pursuing the wrong center this offseason? 

It looks likes Steelers fans are going to get their wish this offseason. After watching a group of young offensive linemen embarrass themselves during the 2021 season, it looks like Kevin Colbert will look to improve the offensive line through free agency this year.

Dan Graziano of ESPN reports that the Steelers are one of the top teams looking to bid on Ryan Jensen’s services when the free agency period officially opens up on March 16th.

Jensen was recognized for his efforts with a Pro Bowl appearance in 2021 and now has five straight seasons without missing a game. While I would have zero complaints about the Steelers bringing him in, perhaps there is a free agent center that makes even more sense for Pittsburgh in 2022 — given their current situation.

Steelers should target Brian Allen

Brian Allen is a lesser-known name than Jensen, but this certainly doesn’t mean that he’s not a quality football player in his own right. In fact, Allen graded out higher of the two this past season. According to Pro Football Focus, Allen was the 10th-ranked center with an overall grade of 74.8, while Jensen was the 14th highest-ranked center with a grade of 68.7.

Obviously, this is just one factor considered among a multitude of things. What interests me most, however, is the youth that a player like Allen would offer. Allen is just 26 years old. This puts him in the same ballpark as players like T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick who are sure to be around for the long haul.

In comparison, Jensen turns 31 years old in May, and it’s uncertain how much gas is left in the tank. While it’s possible that Jensen could play well into his 30s if he remains injury-free, it’s worth noting that David DeCastro retired following his age-30 season and Maurkice Pouncey was already washed up by this point in his career.

While Jensen could be the better option for the next year or two, Allen has yet to enter his prime years for an NFL offensive lineman (which normally come during their late 20s and into their early 30s).

Allen is also projected to be significantly cheaper than Jensen in free agency. According to Spotrac.com, Jensen is projected to make upwards of $10 million per season, while Allen is nearly half that at an estimate of $5.4 million annually. Going with Allen could save the Steelers money they could use elsewhere in free agency.

Allen isn’t without his risks, however. He suffered a major knee injury in 2019 and missed the entire 2020 season. In addition to this, Allen (6’2”, 303 lb) is notably smaller than Jensen (6’4”, 319 lb). This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the Steelers really like players who can reach block and get out in space. Allen is still a very good run blocker, but like many smaller centers, he struggles to anchor at times in pass sets.

Ryan Jensen and Brian Allen are both good football players with positives and negatives to note. However, if the plan is to build an offensive line for the future, perhaps Allen makes more sense for the Steelers in free agency this year.