Since the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers' new-look offensive line has garnered loads of attention. Fans are anxious to see what first-round rookie Max Iheanachor brings to the table, while third-round pick Gennings Dunker has quickly become a fan favorite. Meanwhile, Steelers fans are excited about the potential jump they could see from Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier early in their careers.
But one NFL analyst is urging fans not to be too quick to forget about Mason McCormick.
As a fourth-round pick from the South Dakota State Jackrabbits of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, McCormick is hardly the biggest name on an offensive line that includes four players selected higher in the NFL Drafts over the past four years. However, the tenacious offensive lineman quietly made a massive impact in 2025.
Recently, NFL Network analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger cut up film on McCormick from the Steelers' Week 18 do-or-die performance against the Baltimore Ravens. Baldinger was enthralled with McCormick's tape, both as a run blocker and a pass protector.
"When you watch Mason McCormick, he's really become an excellent player. Thirty-two straight starts for the Steelers... Mason McCormick played all 1,088 snaps last year... McCormick: one penalty in 1,088 snaps last year." —Brian Baldinger on X.
In his post, Baldinger noted that McCormick is both durable and dependable, expressing that he has a lot of fun playing the position. And if the Steelers' most underrated piece of the O-line is already getting love from a popular offensive line guru, it can only mean good things regarding this unit moving forward.
Mason McCormick gives the Pittsburgh Steelers another young offensive lineman to get excited about
It's not hard to understand why Steelers fans might be more excited to watch Iheanachor or Dunker take the field for the first time in meaningful NFL action than to watch McCormick in Year 3. But there's still a ton to get pumped about when it comes to this 2024 Day 3 draft pick.
Despite his draft status and small-school background, McCormick proved impressive enough to win the starting right guard job early in his rookie season in 2024. From there, the big offensive guard has quietly made strides.
McCormick isn't your run-of-the-mill fourth-round pick. He's always had starter traits, thanks to his prototype frame and outstanding athletic traits. At the 2024 NFL Combine, McCormick measured in at 6'4 1/4'' and 309 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms. Meanwhile, his blazing 5.08 40-yard dash and remarkable jumps (35 1/2'' vertical and 117'' broad) allowed him to test as a 99th percentile athlete, according to Relative Athletic Score.
From the beginning, we knew that McCormick's ceiling was high. Now, NFL experts are starting to take notice of the overlooked and underrated offensive linemen.
If Mason McCormick can continue to make strides, and assuming Pittsburgh hits on the Iheanachor and Dunker picks, there's no telling how good the Steelers' offensive line can be in 2026 and beyond.
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