The NFL Draft is over, and for the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans, all eyes and ears are now on Aaron Rodgers and whether or when he will sign with them. While the team focused heavily on improving the defense during the draft, one area that has not received much attention is the offensive line and its depth.
With multiple starting offensive linemen leaving in free agency and lingering question marks around a few others, strengthening the offensive line should be the team’s top priority, right behind waiting for a decision from Aaron Rodgers.
This offseason, the Steelers saw two key starters, Dan Moore and James Daniels, leave for other teams in free agency, along with important depth piece Nate Herbig. These losses are significant for Pittsburgh, as the team dealt with a high volume of injuries along the offensive line last season.
Fortunately, the Steelers had solid depth in place to cover those injuries, allowing them to not lose much of a step. However, heading into this upcoming season, the Steelers have done little to ensure they have the same level of depth and insurance to protect themselves against future injuries along the line.
Pittsburgh Steelers walking a tightrope with fragile O-Line depth chart
So far, Pittsburgh’s only addition to their offensive line depth has been the re-signing of Calvin Anderson to a two-year deal. While Anderson is a solid depth option, the team did not use any of their draft picks to address the offensive line. This leaves them in a vulnerable position, especially when considering the current state of their starting unit.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the line is Broderick Jones, who is expected to move back to left tackle after playing right tackle last season. It remains to be seen if Jones will be the high-quality player they hoped for when they traded up in the first round to draft him.
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The Georgia product's performance has been underwhelming, but perhaps a move back to his natural left tackle position will spark the improvement Pittsburgh is hoping for. Additionally, Troy Fautanu is coming back from a season-ending injury, which raises concerns about his ability to fully regain his strength and how he will perform after essentially sitting out an entire season.
Given the potential issues at multiple positions along the line, you would think the Steelers would prioritize adding higher-quality backups to ensure they are prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
A team with Super Bowl aspirations needs solid depth, especially in the trenches, where injuries can pile up and be devastating. With the level of uncertainty surrounding the offensive line, it seems like a missed opportunity not to add more depth through free agency or the draft.
As training camp approaches, there may still be opportunities to bolster depth. Some high-level backups and low-end starters are still available in free agency, and more will become available as cuts happen around the league. The Steelers should act quickly, as relying on injury-prone or unproven players could come back to bite them during the season.