After years of great battles in the trenches against the Pittsburgh Steelers, former Cleveland Browns All-Pro guard Joel Bitonio remains a free agent as the calendar flips to June.
Could a move to the other side of the AFC North matchup be in the cards?
For CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, that might be the best decision for Bitonio ahead of his age-35 season.
In a piece for CBSSports.com, Podell tabbed the Steelers as the best landing spot for Bitonio, who has earned seven Pro Bowl nods, two first-team All-Pro accolades, and three second-team All-Pro selections in his storied career.
“Joel Bitonio may have lost a step, but he can still pass protect, allowing just two sacks in 2025. His 75.7 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade was the eighth-best in the NFL among guards this past season. Bitonio would make a lot of sense for a team looking for interior help on the cheap to return to the playoffs,” Podell writes.
Though he’s getting up there in age, he still played some good football last season.
Bitonio logged 1,081 snaps last season and graded out at a 70.7 overall from Pro Football Focus, his highest mark since the 2022 season. He allowed just 31 pressures and two sacks on the season and was called for just one penalty.
Bitonio has racked up 11,842 career snaps which is a lot of mileage for a trench player. But he isn’t showing many signs of slowing down and now has a chance to chase a championship outside of Cleveland.
Podell believes the Steelers are a great fit for him.
“Bitonio could remain in the AFC North and pursue postseason football with the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Podell writes. “The interior of their offensive line needs an upgrade at right guard over 2023 seventh-round pick Spencer Anderson after Pro Bowler Isaac Seumalo departed to join the Arizona Cardinals in free agency, and Bitonio would certainly represent that.
“Blocking for four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers could be a lot of fun for Bitonio after years of blocking for a rotating cast of characters at the quarterback position in Cleveland.”
Losing Isaac Seumalo in free agency was a big blow for the Steelers, but they did well to sign veteran Brock Hoffman and also drafted Iowa’s Gennings Dunker in the third round. For now, veteran Spencer Anderson is projected to start at right guard after the Steelers moved Mason McCormick back to his natural left guard spot.
McCormick’s move blocks the whole thought on Bitonio though. He has logged just two career snaps at right guard, and a position switch doesn’t seem to be in the cards for him this late in his career.
It would be fun to see Bitonio in the Black and Gold though. He’s had some great battles with Cameron Heyward over the years, and his presence would strengthen the offensive line. But the Steelers have already shifted McCormick to the left side and are keen on developing Anderson and Dunker while giving Hoffman a chance to compete.