The Steelers season is officially over, and with the offseason now the focus of this team, I wanted to take some time to break down this team position by position. This will be both a primer for who will stay or go in the offseason as well as who could be added. This series will go position by position as we head toward the new league year.
We head into the offensive line, which is a core need for this team still. While the past few seasons have seen the line get better, there are still some needs here. Considering how important the position is, it would be nice to see this unit finally perform like a top unit again this season. Here is my breakdown of the room ahead of the 2024 offseason.
Steelers offensive line room assessment
It was another mixed bag for the Steelers offensive line this season. Despite another big addition to the interior of the line, this group continued to struggle. Early in the season was a continuation of the previous issues, as the line struggled to gel. By year's end, the group had started to get their act together.
The highlight of this line was the guard position. Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels were both studs. They were maulers in the run game, did well in pass protection, and were brutal on the move. Both should continue to be quality blockers for the next few seasons.
Chukwuma Okorafor was his usual expensive, average self. He seemed like a lock to continue to start until some derogatory comments moved him to the bench. From there, rookie first-rounder Broderick Jones got the nod. He was a mixed bag, but considering he was viewed as a raw player in school, the sky is the limit for him entering year two.
The same can’t be said for Dan Moore. While I have defended him as a former fourth-round pick, we have likely seen the ceiling of his game. He can have stretches of average play, but nothing more than that. If this line wants to take the next step, Moore can’t be counted on as a starter.
The real issue became Mason Cole. Despite a strong first season with the team, Cole regressed in a major way in year two. His blocking was a disaster and his snaps were poor. Add in his elevated salary and you have a real issue here. Center is arguably the biggest need because of this.