The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't make a sound at the NFL trade deadline. While the complacency of general manager Omar Khan and the front office irked much of the fanbase, the Steelers showed that they valued their draft capital too much to pay a premium to add above-average starting talent.
But we just got a necessary reminder of why we should trust the process.
Khan has invested heavily in the trenches in the NFL Draft since taking over the GM role after Kevin Colbert. While Khan clearly busted on his first-ever draft pick, Broderick Jones (whom he later traded to the Dallas Cowboys), the rest of the offensive line is starting to show just how good they are going to be.
On Wednesday, Pro Football Focus dropped its updated O-line rankings. The Steelers rank third, trailing only the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions. This is a welcome sight—especially after watching the offensive line struggle early in the season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line ranking shows why fans should trust the process
PFF has the Steelers narrowly edging out the Broncos (No. 4), Bills (No.5), and Bears (No.6) as a top-three offensive line in the NFL. And despite the bye, PFF feels confident that they belong this high on the list.
"The Steelers had a bye in Week 9 but dominated the trenches against the Cleveland Browns the week prior, with the line surrendering just three pressures in the win. Center Zach Frazier is currently the only center in the NFL with PFF pass-blocking and run-blocking grades above 75.0, and he leads all players at the position with a 79.5 overall PFF grade," PFF's Gordon McGuinness wrote.
McGuinness mentioned Zach Frazier by name. Frazier is having a career year and has emerged as arguably the best center in football. He's not alone. Left guard Mason McCormick is having the best season of his career, while 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu and 2026 first-round pick Max Iheanachor are starting to hit their groove and have shown flashes of dominant run-blocking ability.
The Steelers didn't add to their roster at the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean they can't improve. Their O-line, for example, is one of the youngest starting units in the NFL, and it should only get better as the season progresses.
And if the Steelers can keep running the football the way they have been, they'll have a chance to compete with any team in the league on any given week.
It's time we start trusting the process—draft and develop players; that's the best team-building approach. Omar Khan and the Steelers are giving their young players opportunities to shine, and just like their top-three spot in the latest offensive line rankings, we are starting to reap the rewards.
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