The Steelers have a lot of work to do this offseason, and here is a foolproof plan to fix this offensive line.
The Steelers season was a net disappointment, as the team struggled for most of the season. Even when Pittsburgh was winning, a lot of the same issues were still plaguing them. While many fans claimed the offensive line was the biggest issue (it wasn’t), this is a unit that is long overdue for some quality talent.
Because of this, I have decided to create a foolproof plan that, if followed, will turn this unit into a strength. No, the team isn’t going to sign every big-name free agent on the market and use their top three picks on different linemen. There are too many needs on this team right now. That said, there are some obvious steps the team can and should take to see this line improve in 2023.
Assessing the current Steelers roster
The Steelers line beat expectations in 2023. After a bad preseason, it looked like this group was going to be an absolute train wreck. Credit to Pat Myer for getting some respectable play out of this unit last season.
That said, there are only two players I view as safe. James Daniels was the Steelers best lineman last season, even if his play was less stellar than I had anticipated it. Still extremely young, it looks like Daniels initially struggled to learn the Myer system. I expect better play in 2023 and am comfortable keeping him as my building block along the interior.
Mason Cole, a fellow free agent from last year, is also safe. There is a really weird portion of the fanbase that treats him like a liability. Is Cole a dominant player? No, but he was consistently above average. He can also play anywhere along the interior, which gives this team flexibility. I don’t want him as my starting center/guard long-term, but he is fine to have around for another season.
Steelers have some important in-house moves
The Steelers have the opportunity, if they choose, to essentially keep the same starting five offensive linemen in 2023. That said, based on the very average play, there needs to be some shuffling. I’ve mentioned my two locks who should be starting in some form or fashion, but the remaining three should be fighting for their starting jobs.
My only cut in this room is Chukwuma Okorafor. While he has come a long way, his very average play isn’t worth keeping around at his current price tag. Keeping him around is a sizable cap hit and a statement that this team is accepting of average offensive line play next year.
While everyone seems to be down on Dan Moore, I think he did show some flashes in his second season. That said, I want Kenny Pickett’s blindside protected better, and Moore has been a liability there. He is kept on the roster given his rookie contract status, but he will have competition brought in. That said, I think he can play the right side better than the left, so a move could be in his future.
Kevin Dotson is in a similar boat as Moore, except he has less versatility and hasn’t shown as much growth as a professional. He is naturally kept, but the team can and should be bringing in some legitimate competition for him. That said, he can mad down the fort this offseason.
In terms of free agents, the only name that should be prioritized is J.C. Hassenauer. He is a restricted-free agent and is dependable as a backup. Trent Scott and Jessie Davis, the other free agents, can be offered minimum deals and be brought into camp, but anything more is an overpay.
How the Steelers should attack free agency
In terms of sizable deals, I think the Steelers should once again be targeting two additions in free agency. While everyone will clamor for the big names, the Steelers rarely have the firepower to attract those players to this team. That said, this team has some cap space to work with and should attack free agency in one of two ways.
No matter who their big fish is, this team needs to add a dependable swing tackle. No, this isn’t the flashy name that will be cemented to start, but if having Moore be slotted on either the right or left side is a part of the plan next season, he needs a competitor that can push him. Whoever loses will be the swing tackle for this offense.
A name that would fit that bill perfectly is Cameron Erving. The former first round pick has experience all over the offensive line, but he has settled in as a good reserve tackle in recent years. He wouldn’t be that pricy, and he can play almost anywhere (assuming he loses out to Moore), making him a versatile backup.
From there, the team can go in two different directions. The first, and less likely way, is targeting another guard to add. That would give them a very expensive interior line. As well, Dotson can and should be competing for his job, so a rookie at guard makes a lot more sense.
If they did go for a guard, the most logical name is Dalton Risner. He fits what this team wants in their guards, as he has the size and mobility to work in space. The remainder of this interior free agency class isn’t spectacular, so it would be Risner or bust if they want to spend a long the inside.
Tackle is the more viable option. Even with a swing tackle brought on, adding a legitimate starter should be the better route. You can’t talk about tackle talent in free agency this year without mentioning Orlando Brown. Playing on the franchise tag, there is a legitimate chance he ends up as a free agent, and he is far and away the best lineman available in 2023.
The rest of the league will also be thinking this, and that should inflate his salary. There is a good chance he lands a contract over 20 million a season. Already an atypical Steelers move, they will likely have to lace the deal with guarantees, something else they don’t do. While it would be great to land a talent like Brown, I just don’t think it is feasible.
Instead, I think the best fit for this team is Mike McGlinchey. The 49ers right tackle is a little older, but he has been a steady presence and a talented tackle. He lacks the dominance of Brown, but he can more than hold his own along the line.
His contract should average well over 10 million a season, but that number is far more feasible than 20+ million. Adding him secures your tackle spots before the draft and allows you to only have to focus on the interior in the draft. To recap, the team adds a swing tackle to compete with Moore and a proven starter at either guard or tackle, with my personal preference being the team adding a top tackle.
How the Steelers should attack the draft
The Steelers have three picks during the first two rounds in thanks to the Chase Claypool trade with the Bears. This gives them a lot of flexibility in terms of what direction they go with their top pick. While getting a capable linemen would still make sense, it isn’t a must since there is only one spot still lacking at this point.
With their first pick, the team should be considering two legitimate options: Peter Skoronski or Paris Johnson. While both are listed as tackles, either could kick inside if needed to guard. This gives the team flexibility based on what they do in free agency, as Johnson or Skoronski can wear multiple hats as a player.
In Skoronski’s case, I think he will carve out a better career as a guard over a tackle. He is a tad short for tackle play and his arms don’t seem that long. That said, he is a great technician as a lineman and would be a great addition in the first round.
The team can also bypass the offensive line in the first round if need be for one of their other positions of need. O’Cyrus Torrence is a mountain of a man and would make sense atop of the second round.
From there, the team could still address their line with their second pick in the second round. This opens them to the next wave of tackles like Darnell Wright and Jaelyn Duncan. Emil Ekiyor has some intrigue out of Alabama, and even a center like John Michael Schmitz or Luke Wypler would be a logical addition.
Finally, the Steelers could look to double-dip in the draft and add another lineman late who can develop into a backup. The team can’t afford to use all of their top picks on linemen but adding one key starter and another depth piece would be a big win.
How the Steelers line would look in 2023
Would the Steelers offensive line be a top-five unit in 2023? Probably not, but the improvements highlighted here would go a long way. This run game was starting to finally turn the corner in the back half of the season, so having a line better equipped to open holes will make that unit even stronger. Pickett will also have some more time to throw as a result of these improvements.
My dream scenario from this entire build would be as follows: Moore wins the left tackle job, Skoronski takes over at left guard, Cole and Daniels remain at center and right guard, and McGlinchey takes over at right tackle.
Erving is a viable swing tackle that can wear a lot of hats while Dotson backs up both guard spots while Hassenauer is your primary backup center. While Dotson is fine depth, he could also feasibly be traded if the right deal came in.
All in all, this would be a logical path to take for the Steelers to better their offensive line. No, every top pick doesn’t have to be spent on the line and three great free agents don’t need to be brought in. This group will still have flaws, but they would be a far better unit heading into 2023 than they were in 2022.