The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the 2024 season with a lot of questions regarding the offensive line. Injuries have ravaged the unit, as the team may have to start an injured tackle if neither Broderick Jones nor Troy Fautanu can fully heal up in time for their Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. There's also the question of how the left guard position will look, especially with Isaac Seumalo being out for the first few weeks. Despite all those concerns, the Steelers have finally answered one question that they have been faced with for a few years now.
Zach Frazier is likely to be the starting center for the Steelers throughout the 2024 season and beyond, and he has already turned plenty of heads during training camp in preseason. Matt Miller of ESPN talked about his potential, even going as far as to say that he could be an All-Pro lineman.
"Frazier had a first-round grade on my board, so maybe it's no surprise that he's already wowing with his reps in the preseason. He has the look of a future All-Pro. Frazier's movement skills and strength at the point of attack were standout traits in college, and they're already popping off the field in the pros."
The Steelers never expected Frazier to fall to them in the second round of the 2024 draft, and they were absolutely stoked to nab their new franchise center. After Nate Herbig was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve (IR), they had no choice but to let their rookie take first-team reps for the rest of preseason. He has constantly shown that he deserves to be the starter anyways.
It's always hard to tell which rookie could be an All-Pro in the future, but for Miller, Frazier will be a lock for the honor. He has made his appearance known in preseason, with only one real mistake made in the process. His first true test will come soon, as the Steelers gear up for the first regular season game of the campaign. If he can hold his own against a defensive line led by Grady Jarrett, he should be a great center for the season, and maybe even the next decade.
Steelers Finally Have Someone To Fill Former Legend's Shoes
The Steelers had Maurkice Pouncey as the franchise center throughout the 2010s, as he anchored one of the greatest offensive lines of the decade. He was named to given either first or second-team All-Pro honors five times in his career, and he made the Pro Bowl in all but one of his 10 healthy seasons. When he retired after the 2020 season, he left some big shoes to fill, and the Steelers had lots of trouble filling them in, until now.
The Steelers' first option to replace Pouncey was a questionable decision. They opted to pass on Creed Humphrey in the second round of the 2021 draft and went for Kendrick Green in the third round. He immediately made the full-time transition from guard to center, where he had a miserable rookie season. Humphrey got paid by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 offseason, while Green was traded away for a sixth-round pick in 2023.
The Steelers went to free agency to try again in 2022, signing Mason Cole to a three-year deal. Cole had a solid first season with the team, but that seemed to be an anomaly. His play dropped off hard, which led to him getting cut after 2023. He is still a free agent, and who knows if he will pick up a gig for 2024? The Steelers have even opted to stick with Ryan McCollum for center depth as opposed to bringing Cole back.
