3 Steelers players who will benefit most from rebuilt offensive line

Steelers promising guard Kevin Dotson

Kevin Dotson did not get the chance to cement himself as the Steelers best lineman last season due to injury, but he still showed flashes of what he could be as a full-time starter. He graded out very well in pass protection according to PFF but continued his struggles as a run blocker that he showed as a rookie.

Part of that was due to playing in between two rookies, Dan Moore Jr and Kendrick Green, often doing too much to try and make up for mistakes. That shouldn’t be as much of an issue now that the team added help in the interior and Moore Jr having a full season under his belt.

Although I am not ready to completely give up on Green, his performance last season was too rough to guarantee him the starting center job. Both Cole and Daniels have experience at all three interior line positions, so one of them seems like a lock to replace Green.

That would give Dotson three experienced linemates to play next to, taking some pressure off him and letting him focus on his assignments. It could also be good for Green to sit and develop behind the new additions with the hope he can earn back his spot in the future. In general, it will elevate the returning players now that they have more talent around them.

Dotson has all the tools to be a great guard, he just needs a full season to show it. With better players surrounding him in 2022, he should be a major breakout candidate and could play his way into a long-term extension with the Steelers.

The Steelers offense as a whole should see significant improvement thanks to the rebuilt offensive line, but Trubisky, Harris, and Dotson should be the players most excited by the moves so far. Pittsburgh will need big seasons from all three of them if they want to compete in a loaded AFC, and they have done well to set them up just that.