For all the changes that have come to the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers, surprisingly little has changed on the offensive line. There will be a new starting five to start the season, but it’s no less curious that the Steelers haven’t made a serious investment upfront this offseason.
For all of the praise general manager Omar Khan and assistant Andy Weidl get for their efforts in building through the trenches, there were no additions to the unit via the NFL Draft, and the signed free agents this offseason aren’t locks to make the roster, let alone compete for a spot up front.
That must indicate that the Steelers are confident in the offensive line to keep Aaron Rodgers upright this season and reliably create rushing lanes for Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson. But it’s difficult to see where that confidence comes from. Pro Football Focus seems to agree, ranking the Steelers' offensive line 21st overall in their recent rankings.
PFF is skeptical of Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line, and for good reason
Broderick Jones' move to left tackle may be what fans have wanted to see from the beginning, but his time on the right side has been anything but consistent. On the right side, Troy Fautanu makes his return after missing nearly the entirety of his rookie season due to injury. While he looked solid in his lone start, the injuries that plagued him before and after that start are concerning.
On the interior, the leadership comes from Isaac Seumalo, who made his first Pro Bowl last season despite missing the first four games of the season. But opposite Seumalo is a second-year player in Mason McCormick, who had an up-and-down rookie season, finishing with a 57.7 overall PFF grade, which ranked 87th in the league. Luckily, fellow second-year center Zach Frazier had an incredible rookie campaign, where he earned a top-5 PFF grade.
READ MORE: Steelers' offensive line faces more pressure than even Aaron Rodgers in 2025
Certainly, for the Steelers’ front office, there’s an element of confidence in your selections, and giving your young players a chance to prove themselves with star power surrounding them. But it’s not as though those same stars on the offense can be consistently productive if the offensive line isn’t holding up its end of the bargain.
Pittsburgh’s offensive line, barring significant improvements and overwhelming luck with health, will be average at best. For a team that has made so many all-in moves this offseason, it’s puzzling that the team didn’t do much to enhance the offensive front, even if that meant punting on some previous investments in the draft.