Every year, ahead of training camp, we talk about the biggest positional battles that could take place for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This year, 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson will be duking it out for a chance to stick on the roster and carve out a role. Meanwhile, at the wide receiver position, second-round pick Germie Bernard will be jostling for position as Roman Wilson looks to hang on.
But one position battle we can't ignore comes at a position we don't talk about: left guard.
After Isaac Seumalo departed for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency, there was quietly a major vacancy at the position. Spencer Anderson, who served as a backup guard and even aligned at tight end last season, was first in line to get a look at a starting gig. Anderson was a seventh-round pick by the Steelers in 2023 who has inched up the depth chart ladder since the start of his career.
Then Brock Hoffman came along.
Hoffman, a guard/center formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, was scooped up by the Steelers in free agency. Hoffman is a quality player who has a history with Mike McCarthy. This quietly added competition to the position. But the front office wasn't finished.
After ignoring the interior offensive line with their first three picks in the draft, it seemed like the left guard vacancy on the Steelers' offensive line would be a battle between Hoffman and Anderson. That's when Pittsburgh landed Gennings Dunker with the No. 96 pick in the draft.
Dunker, who played exclusively at right tackle during his Iowa career, projects best as a guard at the next level, and the Steelers already expressed that this is where they intend to play him.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a true three-way battle at guard during training camp
Most positional groups on the Steelers' roster are usually pretty well defined entering the summer. And usually, when there is a competition for a starting role, it comes down to two players. This year, there could legitimately be a three-way battle for the starting left guard role.
Each of these three players has something going in their favor.
Anderson is going on his fourth year with the team. Though the Steelers have a new offensive line coach in James Campen, Anderson already has continuity with his teammates, and his seniority could allow him to earn first-team reps as camp opens. He has played in 42 games in his first three seasons, making 11 starts.
Hoffman, meanwhile, is the most experienced player of this trio. In four years in Dallas, Hoffman played in 54 games and made 16 starts. Though much of his action came at center, he showed the versatility to be a quality guard when called upon. Hoffman also has the McCarthy connection.
Then there is Dunker, who, despite being a third-round rookie, will have a chance to compete for a starting job from Day 1. Though the Iowa standout has no NFL experience or connection to the coaching staff, he's got the best physical tools of the group. Dunker is bigger, longer, stronger, and more athletic than both Hoffman and Anderson.
Dunker also has youth on his side, as he will be just 23 years old during his rookie season. And if the Steelers are thinking ahead, they could allow the big offensive lineman to earn the job early and start developing chemistry with his teammates.
While Dunker might be the long-term plan on the O-line, it doesn't mean that he's going to win the job from the gate. This will depend on performance. There's also a chance that the Steelers could flip right guard Mason McCormick back over to left guard (where he played throughout his college career). But this might only happen if it's Dunker who is ahead in the race and expected to win the job.
If I had to make an early prediction, based on what I know about these players and the team's direction, I would expect Hoffman to earn the starting job early in the season with Dunker eventually taking over at the first sign of trouble or if Hoffman gets injured. This would make Anderson a backup swing interior offensive lineman.
We've still got months to watch this positional battle unfold, but this three-way competition is one we can no longer ignore.
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