After a less-than-stellar start to the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line could see a shakeup. Maybe the team won't go out and sign a notable free agent, as those are scarce this time of year, but they might add a different name to the roster.
There are plenty of offensive linemen out there looking for a job, and if the current options on the Steelers roster aren't careful, they could lose their spot sometime soon.
It was reported by Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live that the Steelers hosted a pair of free agent offensive linemen this week. Those two were Charlie Heck and Austin Deculus. Both are veteran offensive tackles with varying degrees of experience. Neither would immediately solve the Steelers' ongoing issues with their offensive line, but the team might have to sign one of them eventually.
Right now, Pittsburgh's starting offensive tackles are Troy Fautanu on the left side and Dylan Cook on the right. Both of them showed signs of struggle against an Atlanta Falcons team that didn't pose a massive threat with their battered group of edge rushers.
Signs point to Cook eventually getting benched in favor of Max Iheanachor, but Cook could lose his job quicker if his struggles continue.
Pittsburgh Steelers' early-season struggles trigger free agent interest to boost their roster
Let's look at Charlie Heck first as a potential free agent addition to the Steelers roster. He is an interesting player with great size at the position. He has gone from being a fourth-round pick back in 2020 to a journeyman in the NFL. Heck has struggled to hang on to a job and doesn't have as much experience as you'd prefer in a veteran going into his seventh year in the league.
Pittsburgh would be taking a gamble by signing either Heck or Austin Deculus, but it might be something they have to consider. Deculus is two years younger than Heck and could be the more interesting free agent option out of those the Steelers tried out. Deculus also brings a little more starting experience and in-game action. He could be their backup option if all else fails.
At the end of the day, the Steelers trying out free agents to help their offensive line this early in the season is a problem. It's unlikely that either Charlie Heck or Austin Deculus would help boost the trenches if Troy Fautanu or Dylan Cook aren't the answer. Maybe the team is investigating options to help bring in another swing tackle for this season, but even then, this isn't a promising look.
One thing is for certain: this overhyped offensive line must start to show they are worth their high regard. The franchise has invested too much in the trenches for this experiment to go awry. The Steelers should see that group improve as the season pushes onward, but there are no guarantees. Don't be shocked if you see some roster shuffling if the early season struggles continue up front.
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