Mason McCormick is starting to look like the kind of offensive lineman Pittsburgh can build around.
Pro Football Focus analyst Bradley Locklear put the Steelers guard on his 2026 NFL All-Breakout Team, pointing to McCormick as a player ready to take another jump in his third season. McCormick is expected to open the year as Pittsburgh’s starting left guard, and his second-year surge gave Locklear plenty of reason to buy in.
“The Steelers have developed several homegrown offensive linemen on the rise in recent years, and McCormick could be the next breakout candidate,” Locklear wrote.
That optimism comes straight from the grades. McCormick went from a 57.7 overall PFF mark as a rookie to a 72.9 in his second season, a sharp rise after an uneven first year. Locklear said the biggest gains showed up late in the season.
“The South Dakota State product was significantly better in his second year, with his overall PFF grade jumping from 57.7 to 72.9,” Locklear wrote. “Much of that improvement was fostered by late-season success. From Week 10 and later, McCormick was the 10th-best guard by overall grade (79.2), powered by his 81.0 PFF pass-blocking mark.”
That pass protection is what really changed the conversation. McCormick finished the year looking far more dependable in that area, even if Locklear still sees a player with more to clean up before he climbs into the top class at his position.
“McCormick still has room to grow in the run game and in playing more steadily,” Locklear added. “But his work in pass protection could have him in improved standing under Mike McCarthy.”
With McCarthy now taking over as Pittsburgh’s head coach and expected to put a premium on keeping veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers upright, McCormick’s continued rise would fit neatly with the Steelers’ recent investment in young offensive line talent. If that late-season form carries over, he could end up being one of the league’s more notable breakout linemen in 2026.
In Other News...
Former Steelers Star Le'Veon Bell Taken Into Custody Again
Le'Veon Bells post-NFL life has continued to draw attention, and the latest chapter unfolded in Canton, Ohio, where the former Steelers star was taken into custody after spending part of the day at an autograph signing event. Bell, whose name still carries plenty of weight in Pittsburgh because of his prime years in black and gold, has remained a familiar figure at public appearances even as his football career has long since moved on.
His attorney said Bell has been struggling to keep up with child support payments, and court records tied to the matter trace back to Michigan. The financial burden is significant, with Bell said to owe more than $50,000, a reminder that the off-field challenges facing former players can linger long after the cheers have faded and the playing days are over. [Read more 🡒]
This Steelers Camp Battle Could Produce A Surprise Fans Didn't See Coming
Training camp has a way of turning the back end of a roster into a real competition, and Max Hurleman has put himself into that mix for Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old spent last season on the Steelers practice squad and is now trying to turn that foothold into something more permanent, leaning on the kind of versatility coaches tend to value when spots get tight.
Hurleman has not yet played a regular-season NFL snap, but he does bring a useful blend of return ability, receiver depth and special-teams work from his college career. In a camp battle where every rep matters, that kind of all-around profile can keep a player alive longer than expected, especially when the final decisions start coming down to who can help in more than one phase. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Stunned By Ryan Clarks Sudden ESPN Exit
Ryan Clarks run at ESPN appears to have ended just as the network was preparing to lean on him for one of its biggest NFL stages. The longtime analyst had been part of ESPN for more than a decade, and he was expected to play a significant role in the companys Super Bowl coverage next year, a sign of how established he had become inside the leagues most visible studio operation.
For Steelers fans who followed Clark long before his media career, the news lands as another reminder of how quickly things can change in television. He is now a free agent after years in Bristol, and the move leaves plenty of questions about what comes next for one of the sports more recognizable voices, especially after reports pointed to internal issues that may have strained his standing at ESPN. [Read more 🡒]