Steelers need to prioritize tackle over center
When looking over the Steelers needs this offseason, there is arguably no bigger need on the team than center. Mason Cole had seemed like the answer for this team a year ago, at least in the short term. His play regressed last year, and now he seems poised to be a cap casualty.
On the flip side of things, Dan Moore will be back with the team this season. While he has been an extremely streaky player, he is still cheap on his rookie deal. Yes, you can want an upgrade, but having him makes center the bigger hole.
My concern is that tackle is the more expensive position to fix. Take a look at the middling tackles in the league like Chukwuma Okorafor. He was getting paid more than the likes of James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo. The free agent tackle class is filled with these average names, and all of them are likely to get overpaid.
On the flip side of things, there are a slew of center options that should be affordable. While Connor Williams will land a big contract, names like Lloyd Cushingberry or Tyler Biadasz would be upgrades on a budget.
Even more pertinent is the draft class. The tackle class is one of the best in years, so using your top pick in back-to-back seasons makes sense. Even if there is a capable body in Moore there, take advantage of the talent in this class and try to find an elite tackle to pair with Broderick Jones.
This doesn’t mean you can’t draft a center. I’ve said for a while now that your second-round pick seems like the best time to land a center for this team. Even if that means you miss out on the best center prospect in this class, if it means you land another top tackle prospect, it is worth it.