The Steelers have a slew of issues and reasons to be mad about, but two of their additions this offseason shouldn’t be among them.
The Steelers season hasn’t been what many people hoped it would be. While regression was expected due to the departure of talent on this roster, the team as a whole has been miserable on both sides of the field. Fans are angry, and rightfully so. There are some things the team should be thankful for, and it surprisingly starts along the offensive line.
The line as a whole has been a pleasant surprise this season. While far from an elite group, this offensive line has performed better than most expected them to. The talks before the season were all about how bad this group looked, and the preseason was confirmation of that. There was rightfully a lot of skepticism about how this group would fare.
Two additions in the offseason are reasons for this offensive line’s good play. James Daniels and Mason Cole were both signed early in free agency but to mostly different reactions. Daniels was seen as a great, young addition to a line that needed it. Cole was a bit more of a mystery, as he was very up and down before coming to the Steelers.
Daniels has been as advertised
While the early results in the preseason looked bad for Daniels, that seemed to be due to him being on a new team and learning a new system. He has far and away been the most consistent member of this line and at times has been dominant. He should be a lynchpin along this line moving forward.
I would say his play has been on par with how he played with the Bears before earning his big contract. Is he David DeCastro in his prime, no, but he has been a welcome boost to this group. Daniels should be locked into a guard spot for the foreseeable future.
Cole has been a pleasant surprise
Daniels being good was expected, but the expectations for Cole were a lot lower. He had a solid season before joining the Steelers, but he was very mediocre before that. I personally figured he would be a one-and-done type of player for the team. To say the least, I was against the three-year deal the team signed him to.
While he hasn’t been as good as Daniels, Cole has more than held his own at center. In a position that was wildly inconsistent last year, Cole has established himself as an above-average player to this point. While he isn’t the next great center that this team has looked for, he should be a stable starter while the rest of the line gets built up.
The Steelers line rebuild is far from over
While hitting on these two players is a great step in the right direction, the line and most of the team still needs to be overhauled. The group is lacking pedigree and elite play. Personally, I would invest in at least one top tackle and a top left guard. This can be done via free agency or in the draft, but it needs to happen.
That all said, hitting on two free agents last season is a huge boost for this team moving forward. Daniels could be around for the next five-plus years. Cole won’t be around that long, but he should be a stable center for a few years while the rest of the line gets built back up.
I know that this is a small win in an otherwise disappointing season but finding two capable linemen last year is a step in the right direction. Both should, ideally, see the second year of their deal and should be key starters moving forward. It was a small win for a disappointing season, but a win nonetheless.