As the Steelers head toward the 2026 season, the spotlight is landing squarely on the offensive line. The coaching staff has changed, the roster looks different, and Mike McCarthy is trying to install a new offense. Through all of that, one thing hasn’t moved: Pittsburgh still needs this group to be the engine.
That’s why the line feels less like a supporting cast and more like the whole story. The Steelers are counting on it to be their best position group, and they need it to answer a few big questions if this season is going to go anywhere.
The biggest names in that conversation are Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier, two young linemen with the kind of upside that can change the shape of an offense. Both have the potential to reach an All-Pro level, and that kind of growth would be huge as the Steelers try to settle into a new scheme.
The first question is whether Frazier can establish himself as one of the NFL’s top centers. The other is whether Fautanu can take over at left tackle and build on what was already a strong first season as a starter. Those two spots matter, and Pittsburgh is clearly hoping both become strengths.
There’s also a major shift on the edge. Dylan Cook earned credit for stabilizing left tackle after Broderick Jones went down for the year with a neck injury. Now Cook is expected to move to the other side and bring that same steadiness to right tackle.
That’s a tall order for a 27-year-old lineman with only four starts to his name. But if he handles it, the Steelers could suddenly have dependable bookends on both sides, and that changes everything for the offense.
It would also make life much easier for Aaron Rodgers, who didn’t get much protection on his 2025 dropbacks. Give him more time, and the whole unit starts to look a lot more functional.
The run game is part of the equation too. Pittsburgh finished 26th in the NFL in 2025, averaging 103.3 yards on the ground, and the line has to do better if that number is going to climb.
That’s where the reshuffling comes in. The Steelers are moving Fautanu and Mason McCormick to the left side and giving Spencer Anderson the first chance at right guard. If that group can improve even a little in run blocking, the new tandem in the backfield should have room to work.
For Pittsburgh, it all comes back to the same place: the offensive line has to hold up. If it does, this could be a very special season. If it doesn’t, the range of outcomes gets a lot murkier.
In Other News...
Steelers Fans Have Every Reason To Doubt This Offensive Reset
Jon Grudens memories of Mike McCarthy go back to their University of Pittsburgh days, when the future coach was already around every part of practice and showing the kind of work habits that stuck with people. Gruden pointed to that Pitt background as a clue to how McCarthy has always operated, with an early reputation for being willing to do the unglamorous work and stay involved in the details.
For Steelers fans, that history matters because this latest offensive reset is going to be judged on more than scheme talk. McCarthy now has to convince a restless fan base that he can build something functional around Aaron Rodgers and the teams playmakers, and the only way to do that is by earning trust the old-fashioned way, through accountability and visible effort. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Face A Bigger Question About Will Howard
Will Howards standing in Pittsburgh is drawing more attention than a sixth-round quarterback usually does this early in camp. Ray Fittipaldo pushed back on the idea that the Steelers could turn him into meaningful draft capital, pointing out that Howard has not played in a preseason game and that his profile is still the kind teams usually have to build on, not cash in on. Behind Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers are still sorting out the depth chart, and Howard remains part of that conversation rather than a finished product.
Mike McCarthys approach has only added to the intrigue, because the head coach has looked invested in Howards development since January and does not seem inclined to treat him like a throw-in. That is why the trade-bait chatter feels a little premature, even if Howards value will ultimately hinge on what he shows in training camp. For now, the bigger question is not whether Pittsburgh is ready to move him, but whether he can do enough to make the Steelers think twice about ever entertaining the idea. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Freiermuth Has Become A Steelers Problem They Can't Ignore
Pat Freiermuth is heading into 2026 with the kind of pressure that tends to follow a disappointing season and a contract that no longer feels as secure as it once did. After a rough 2025 in which his production dipped well below what the Steelers need from a tight end, the margin for error is shrinking fast, especially with Aaron Rodgers expected to steer a more pass-heavy offense.
Pittsburgh also has more reasons than ever to demand a turnaround. The addition of Darnell Washington gives the Steelers another option at the position and adds another layer to the conversation about how much value Freiermuth can still provide, both as a receiver and as part of the offense's overall balance. If he is going to quiet the noise, he will need to look much more like the dependable pass-catching tight end the Steelers paid for. [Read more 🡒]