4 weakest Steelers starters if the season started today

Mason Cole/ Kendrick Green, Center

Like offensive tackle, the center position is a weakness for the Steelers, however, it is one that the Steelers are unlikely to improve upon. The reason that the Steelers are unlikely to bring in another center is two-fold, as they signed a center for decent money this offseason, and also just spent a third-round draft selection on the position last year.

Mason Cole was signed this offseason to a three-year deal, worth $15.75 million, which means he will get an opportunity to win the job. However, while Cole has experience starting in the NFL, that doesn’t mean he has been a high-level center. He has been a back-end starter, which isn’t bad, but the team could’ve found a better option.

Cole has experience at center and guard, so he can be a swing lineman who serves as a depth piece at all three interior positions if he gets beat out, however, if he does get beat out it will be by his current competition on the roster.

The second wrench to bringing in a new center is Kendrick Green. Green was selected in the third round last year and was converted from guard to center as the Steelers’ replacement for Maurkice Pouncey. However, he was a disappointment last year, as he is undersized, and that truly wound up hurting him. However, he is athletic, which is what the Steelers liked in him when they drafted him, and he does have some physicality.

The Steelers won’t fully give up on a player they drafted that high after one year, so the addition of Cole gives them an opportunity to push Green to play better, but also have someone with experience, who can play if Green doesn’t improve.

Unfortunately, the offensive line was the Steelers’ biggest weakness last year, but the two weakest positions on that offensive line, appear to be locked into who’s currently on the roster when it comes down to who will start this year.