It’s been a mixed bag of results for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Draft over the last few years, to say the least. Pat Friermuth and Isiahh Loudermilk are the only players remaining on the roster from the 2021 draft and the 2022 draft (Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, Demarvin Leal) aren't looking much better. Time will tell how the 2023 draft ends up panning out, but the fact that they found multiple starters in the class after Round 1 is already a great sign.
We can also comfortably say that the 2024 draft class is working out well for the Steelers despite their first-round pick (Troy Fautanu) missing the entire season. That’s because they hit a home run in Round 2 with the selection of Zach Frazier.
In a recent article by Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus, he ranked the top 32 centers in the league heading into the 2025 season. Frazier came in at No. 3 on the list, only behind Creed Humphrey and Tyler Linderbaum. Here is why the site is so bullish on the second-year center from West Virginia going into the new season:
"The Steelers hit it out of the park when they selected Frazier in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. At just 24 years old, he heads into his second year poised to build on an excellent rookie campaign during which he placed fourth in PFF overall grade (77.9) among qualifying centers. Frazier's all-around grading profile is solid, as he places above the 75th percentile as both a pass protector and a run blocker."Mason Cameron, Pro Football Focus
The Pittsburgh Steelers have their center of the future in Zach Frazier
Frazier fell in the 2024 NFL Draft as he was rehabbing from a broken leg that he suffered during his senior season. Otherwise, he would have been a late first-round pick and likely even higher. But he managed to recover from that injury and start 15 games for the Steelers as a rookie.
It took a few games for Frazier to get his feet under him, but you can make a case that he was the best starter on their offensive line by midseason. And by the end of the year, it wasn't even a question.
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The fit in Arthur Smith’s wide-zone offense couldn’t be a better one for Frazier, as he does an excellent job of getting to the second level and sealing off linebackers. With Frazier fully healthy and in the second year of the same scheme, we should see him play at an All-Pro level this season.
The Steelers got a massive steal in Round 2 with Frazier, and he should end up being one of the very best players by the end of the 2025 season.