The Steelers don’t have their quarterback of choice currently under contract, but that’s not their one glaring need right now. According to The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo, that would be the left guard position vacated by Isaac Seumalo. And in his mind, that’s not just because of the available candidates to replace him. It’s as much to do with what their expectations for the offensive line are, or should be.
“Offensive guard, surprisingly, has turned into maybe the most glaring hole on the roster right now”, DeFabo said on Steelers Nation Radio. “The one thing that they really didn’t do is find a legitimate upgrade and replacement for Isaac Seumalo”.
While he acknowledged that the Steelers have Spencer Anderson and signed Brock Hoffman, he still identifies guard among their chief needs, it not their most paramount. The thing is, even if Aaron Rodgers retires, there’s very little they could do about it. In all likelihood, they would just move forward with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.
If the Steelers still see guard as one of their biggest needs, they can find a potential starting guard in the draft, or even double back after the draft and sign a free agent—even trade for one. I can tell you one thing though: you’re not trading for many starting quarterbacks in May. And there isn’t a starting quarterback in this draft, arguably, beyond Fernando Mendoza.
“The way I would look at it if I’m the Steelers, you’ve already invested two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick with the goal of this group not just being pretty good, but being dominant”, DeFabo said in explaining why he sees guard as one of their biggest needs.
“The only way you can continue along that same trajectory is with a guy that is an upgrade to Isaac Seumalo, or a guy who is at least at that same caliber. So I wouldn’t discount them in the first round going with an offensive guard”.
If the Steelers agree with DeFabo, they can potentially find a generational guard in the first round. Or at least a Pro Bowl guard, something they’ve managed before with David DeCastro in 2012. While they haven’t reached Pro Bowl status yet, Pittsburgh has hit on its recent offensive linemen.
Going into the draft, Troy Fautanu is at right tackle, Mason McCormick right guard, Zach Frazier at center—and then things grow murky. Left tackle would be either Broderick Jones or Dylan Cook, potentially hinging on the former’s health. At left guard, Spencer Anderson would be the presumptive favorite, I imagine. But Brock Hoffman has about a year’s worth of starting experience, more than Anderson, and familiarity with Mike McCarthy’s offense.
But do the Steelers need three first-round picks along their offensive line, throwing their greatest resources at their biggest needs? They have already played well, frankly, with Anderson in the lineup. And one can argue they have a better coaching staff now in place that can take the group to another level. But if a guard is the best player available for them in the first round, it would be hard to say no.