ESPN’s Benjamin Solak is already looking at Zach Frazier as more than just a rising name in Pittsburgh - he’s seeing a player with a real chance to climb all the way to the top of his position.
That’s a big statement, but Frazier has given people plenty to work with. The Steelers grabbed him 51st overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the former West Virginia Mountaineer wasted little time making his presence felt. By his sophomore season in 2025, he had posted the 8th-highest PFF grade among centers, a strong sign that he’s already become a key part of Pittsburgh’s offense.
Solak highlighted Frazier as Pittsburgh’s breakout candidate heading into the 2026 season, and he didn’t hold back on the praise.
“Film heads love Frazier, who might simply be the best offensive lineman still on a rookie contract. NFL Next Gen Stats had Frazier with a 2.7% QB pressure rate surrendered last season -- the single best mark of any offensive lineman with at least 300 snaps,” Solak wrote. “Of all the players on this list, Frazier would be my bet to eventually become the best player at his position in the NFL.”
The pick didn’t exactly land well with Steelers fans, though, mostly because plenty of them feel Frazier has already broken out. After the reaction started rolling in on X, Solak replied and doubled down on his belief that Frazier can become the best player at his position.
That’s really the heart of the debate here. For Solak, a breakout doesn’t have to mean a player is still unknown. In Frazier’s case, it’s about a center who has already become a cornerstone for the Steelers and still looks capable of reaching an even higher level.
In Other News...
Steelers Finally Face The Real Kaleb Johnson Question
Kaleb Johnsons first year in Pittsburgh never really got off the ground, and the numbers tell the story. The second-year back finished with 28 carries for 69 rushing yards and no touchdowns, a modest workload that left the Steelers with more questions than answers about how he fits into the offense. Even with a new season approaching, the path forward is not as simple as handing him a bigger role and seeing what happens.
Pittsburgh has also added Rico Dowdle and fullback Riley Nowakowski to the backfield mix, which means Johnson will have to earn every touch in a room that looks different than it did a year ago. Still, there is at least a sense that Mike McCarthys offense could open the door for a more balanced ground game, and Johnsons chance to move from afterthought to factor may depend on whether he can finally seize it. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Have Found More Than A Typical Seventh Round Safety
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What makes Spears-Jennings interesting for the Steelers is the blend of traits that could help him carve out a role on defense and on special teams. Pittsburgh has a history of finding value in backs who can do a little of everything, and Spears-Jennings has the kind of physical profile that leaves room for development, even if the next step is still being sorted out. The question now is whether the Steelers can mold him into the kind of versatile safety who becomes more than a depth piece. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Camp Battle Could End Badly For Two Young Running Backs
The Steelers are sorting through a quieter but still important camp battle behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, with the No. 3 running back spot carrying more weight than it might seem at first glance. In a role that often comes down to special teams work, pass protection and overall roster flexibility, Kaleb Johnson, Eli Heidenreich and Travis Homer are each trying to show they can be more than just a developmental name on the depth chart.
Homer brings the most established special teams value, which gives him a different kind of case than the younger backs trying to carve out a place. Johnson and Heidenreich have their own appeal, but both still have to prove they can handle the less glamorous parts of the job, and that is where camp battles like this can turn quickly for a young player trying to survive roster cuts. [Read more 🡒]