Finishing up our Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive training camp grades by examining the offensive line. We’ll soon flip over to the defensive side of the ball.
Mason McCormick
One of the most unappreciated and overlooked players on the roster, McCormick had a solid summer. There’s little to complain about. McCormick is remarkably durable and available and simply doesn’t miss time aside from breaking his hand at the end of his rookie year. This year, he didn’t miss a single snap.
McCormick messed around at center during early practice reps but never saw time at the pivot beyond one-on-one time with quarterbacks while the rest of the team went through stretch line. He’s back at left guard, his college home, after spending all of last year on the right side.
He’s strong and physical and capable of handling and stalling out bull rushes. His preseason action was solid if not spectacular. Trai Essex made a fair point on his podcast: McCormick plays a little high. He’s a little upright and stiff, and that’s been an issue throughout his career. He’s also not much of an asset as a puller. Spencer Anderson handled most of those trapping duties throughout camp and in-game.
Still, McCormick is a solid-level guard and reinforced that notion from start to finish.
Camp Grade: B+
Zach Frazier
Frazier had snapping yips last summer. Those were gone by the regular season and didn’t rear their ugly head this time around. Frazier was solid beginning to end. He was bull-rushed by Yahya Black or Cam Heyward, but he fights hard to stay square and stay in the fight. Frazier sticks as a blocker. On one screen pass, he stayed attached to Heyward downfield to help clear a lane.
Frazier is available and durable and didn’t miss a snap, let alone a practice during the summer. He’s performed well in the preseason, even if exhibition action isn’t as interesting for his evaluation anymore. Frazier is established. O-line expert Brandon Thorn has highlighted Frazier better utilizing his off-hand to improve his strike and initial punch.
Frazier is set for another excellent year, with a big payday on the other side if all goes well.
Camp Grade: B+
Troy Fautanu
Fautanu flipped sides to left tackle with Mason McCormick joining him. Fautanu’s camp was passable. There were plus moments. He chopped down Cam Heyward with a 1v1 and hit him with a Dikembe Mutombo finger wag after. But Fautanu occasionally had issues with Nick Herbig’s speed rush.
Fautanu’s most glaring camp issue was his false starts. For some reason, he really struggled to hold his water. I charted him for at least three during the team period. I don’t know why he had trouble locking in on the snap count, but it was a problem. Fortunately, the new coaching staff doesn’t make linemen run laps for pre-snap infractions.
In the preseason opener, Fautanu had his issues and struggled with his punch. It missed too often. He was better in the second game and played well in pass protection. Fautanu really looks comfortable working independent hands and his punch. His run blocking was a little worse, falling off one base block on a lead play that FB Riley Nowakowski had to clean up.
Fautanu still needs to grow his game and prove himself as a high-end tackle. The potential is there. His run blocking isn’t as strong as his pass protection, but he’s easily the best tackle currently on the roster until we get a better evaluation of Max Iheanachor. Of course, Fautanu isn’t exactly facing a ton of other competition for that crown, either. A good year will get Fautanu’s fifth-year option exercised in May.
Camp Grade: B-
Spencer Anderson
Anderson entered camp battling for the right guard spot. He took the first snap and has been acting as the clear leader ahead of Brock Hoffman throughout the summer, although as of this writing, the Steelers haven’t officially announced a Week One starter. Anderson was passable overall. He shows enough strength and anchor in the pass game and creates just enough movement as a run blocker. He was asked to pull more often than Mason McCormick, too.
Anderson lacks high-end traits across the board. In size and length, and in athleticism. Everything is just average. His preseason play was inoffensive but better than he’s getting credit for.
Like many of the team’s starting linemen, Anderson was healthy and durable wire-to-wire. He didn’t miss reps and maximized his chances.
Though not pertaining to camp, it’s a critical year for Anderson. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract. A big year could lead to a serious payday; by his standards, at least. That should offer plenty of motivation for Anderson to be his best.
Camp Grade: B-
Brock Hoffman
Hoffman spent most of the year working as second-team guard. He occasionally filtered in with the 1s at left and right guard, but that felt like proof of how much McCarthy wants to rep different offensive line groups in case injury occurs. If anything, it highlights Hoffman, not Spencer Anderson, and he is likely to begin as a top swingman at guard and center.
Hoffman didn’t see much center work but was part of the group before practice each day and logged a series there in the opener against the Green Bay Packers. I thought he might get more center work this summer, but Ryan McCollum mostly held down the fort. We’ll see if that changes against Buffalo.
A veteran, Hoffman played to expectations in the preseason with solid-enough play. He’s strong with a good base, but has limitations in space and lateral movement.
Camp Grade: B-
Gennings Dunker
For all the versatility Pittsburgh’s offensive line was mandated to have this summer, Dunker was affixed to his right guard spot. Perhaps that was by design to help him settle in at making the college transition from right tackle. Dunker had a quiet but inoffensive summer before making his debut against the Green Bay Packers.
That performance was solid. Dunker stayed attached in pass protection and was consistently winning with his punch and hand placement. Athletic limitations showed up on some run blocks, but he’s strong, has a good finish, and is technically sound.
Dunker got dinged with what appeared to be an upper body injury during the final open practice and missed the second preseason game. He returned to practice earlier this week, but it’s uncertain if he’ll play against Buffalo. Dunker is shaping up to begin the year as an inactive as he hones his guard craft.
Camp Grade: B-
Doug Nester
Nester had a better 2026 in Pittsburgh than he had in 2025. Hyper-versatile and looking stronger at the point of attack than a year ago, Nester narrowly lost out to FB/TE Riley Nowakowski for our “Mr. Versatile” camp award. Pittsburgh’s failure to sign a single offensive lineman this summer, despite injuries that dropped them to as few as 11 healthy, was Nester’s opportunity to move around the line.
Nester played both guard and both tackle spots this summer. He even messed around at center in warmups and individual drills, though he never saw action there in 11-on-11 or preseason. The start of his camp felt better than its finish, however, and Nester didn’t particularly stick out in exhibition action even if he didn’t have the glaring issues of a year ago of penalties and lack of play strength.
Injuries around him provided ample opportunity. Through two games, only a pair of Steelers have played more overall snaps than Nester’s 89: Broderick Jones (107) and Jamin Davis (90). He’s fighting veteran Jack Driscoll for a practice squad spot, with Nester’s extra versatility potentially giving him a leg up.
Camp Grade: C+
Dylan Cook
Cook opened up as first-team right tackle and spent the majority of his time this summer at that spot and in that role. Still, Mike McCarthy flips and flops offensive line combinations so much that most players, Cook included, bounced around or worked with different units. That meant Cook saw some work at left tackle in camp and during the preseason.
In a word, Cook’s summer was – okay. Not as bad as some have made it out to be, but hardly anything that locked up the starting right tackle job, even with Iheanachor missing more than half the summer with an injury. Cook likes to chop down the rusher’s hands in pass pro but sometimes struggles to finish. As a run blocker, Cook is marginal and doesn’t get much of a push. He’s athletic and more finesse than road grader.
Cook is likely, though not guaranteed, to start Week One. His bit of experience and health throughout the summer will give him the edge. But it only seems a matter of when, not if, Iheanachor overtakes him in the lineup. By Week Five, perhaps?
Also, if Fautanu goes down, will Cook slide over to left tackle and replace him? Iheanachor won’t do so, and Broderick Jones may not get the nod. That’s one other wrinkle to consider.
Camp Grade: C
Ryan McCollum
McCollum spent the summer working as Pittsburgh’s second-team center. He saw plenty of reps and didn’t miss any reps. His veteran experience helped young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar.
McCollum’s play was generally fine in the early goings before struggling versus the New York Jets. A holding call, an iffy snap, and overall trouble sticking to his blocks. If you’re into PFF grades, he’s the site’s 43rd-ranked center heading into the preseason finale, earning far better marks in the run game (No. 12) than pass pro (No. 43). That passes the eye test.
McCollum played a little bit of guard during the summer and swapped spots with Brock Hoffman for a drive against the Packers. Even with Hoffman seeing limited center reps this summer, his background at the position is strong, and it’s felt like McCollum is the odd man out unless Pittsburgh keeps 10. If waived, McCollum could have league-wide interest. The Los Angeles Chargers sure could use a backup center. A trade isn’t impossible, but if it occurs, the Steelers will get minimum-level return. Probably a pick in 2028, not even 2027.
Camp Grade: C
Broderick Jones
Where to begin. Start with the good. Jones was healthy from beginning to end. In fact, we went from most believing Jones would begin the year on Active/PUP to him logging more reps than probably any other Steeler on the entire roster. Through two preseason games, Jones leads the Steelers in preseason snaps and is the only one in triple digits.
He didn’t miss a single practice of camp, and to his credit, is a very hard worker. He takes reps after practice and absorbs every rep he gets. Pittsburgh put a lot on his plate in reps and flexibility, bouncing him between left and right tackle throughout camp. Underweight and lacking strength from all the time missed, Jones took lumps early and struggled to play with power.
He began settling in midway through camp and flashed with a great rep against Nick Herbig during the Saturday night practice, tossing him down as Herbig tried to rush wide.
In game action, things didn’t feel as progressive. Jones was serviceable in the opener but worse against the Jets. His biggest problem has been and remains his punch. Jones has a seemingly unbreakable habit of keeping his hands low and struggling to make good first contact. His punch is wide and rarely takes control of the rusher. Instead, he tries to ride them upfield and hold on for long enough.
I still don’t blame Jones for the first sack against Will Howard against the Jets; Howard got so deep in the pocket, but Jones was beat on an inside spin by former UDFA Nate Lynn later in the game. It’s fair to wonder how much Jones knew about Lynn, who signed with New York days earlier, and what rush moves Lynn had in his bag, but it’s a negative rep no matter the context.
At best, Jones will be the swing tackle with Pittsburgh focusing on his versatility and not what he can offer as a starter. Still, if Dylan Cook goes down, Max Iheanachor feels like next-man-up. If Fautanu goes down, does Cook slide over or does Jones step in? If Cook flips, where does that leave Jones?
On paper, a young, experienced, and versatile lineman like Jones has trade value. But Jones has struggled to the point where a team would have to be desperate to take him on, and Pittsburgh might just be better off rostering him as an 8th offensive lineman.
I feel for the guy; he’s been through a lot, but this will be his final year with the team.
Camp Grade: C-
Greg Crippen
An undrafted rookie from Michigan, Crippen participated in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and earned a contract. He ran as third-string center and was healthy for all of camp. In the “little things” that really are big things, Crippen did fine. No issues with snaps or play calls that can lead to completely lost reps.
Crippen is undersized and lacks power. He gets pushed around by bigger nose tackles. To his credit, he competed hard and didn’t embarrass himself. Still, he’s looking at the practice squad at best, and it’s doubtful he ever lands on a 53-man roster unless injuries force someone’s hand.
Camp Grade: C-
Jack Driscoll
A veteran, Driscoll flipped and flopped between both tackle spots this summer. His experience helps, and he was durable and available from beginning to end, but it’s hard to get excited about his play. Driscoll lacks the foot speed to protect the edge against speed rushers, even though one sack he allowed against the Jets was made difficult by QB Drew Allar getting so deep in the pocket.
Driscoll could stick on the practice squad because of his Sunday experience; he has over 1,400 regular-season snaps, but the Steelers are in the danger zone if Driscoll ever has to play.
Camp Grade: C-
Lorenzo Thompson
Thompson flashed some versatility mixing and matching at tackle and guard. He played a lot more guard than tackle but bounced around. Thompson looked far more comfortable along the interior. During a 1v1 rep in the Saturday night practice, he aligned at right tackle and was literally upright – stiff as a board – as he badly lost a rep to Jamin Davis.
Thompson was injured later during that session. On one of practice’s final reps, he fell to the ground at the end of a run play. He was slow to get up but eventually made it to his feet. Trainers didn’t check on him, but he was waived/injured before the next practice. Pittsburgh’s since released him with an injury settlement.
It’s the reality of camp. One moment, I’m watching Thompson sign as many autographs as he could for fans before practice began. The next, his time in Pittsburgh ends.
Camp Grade: D+
Max Iheanachor
For moments in time, Iheanachor was shining. Evaluating linemen before the pads come on is futile, which made things extra exciting for that first padded session. Iheanachor passed the initial test with quality reps in 1v1 drills against Pittsburgh’s top pass rushers: T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, Alex Highsmith, and Jack Sawyer. Iheanachor had wins versus all of them.
Sometimes, veterans (especially Watt) use those drills to work on moves instead of aiming to “win,” but it was still impressive to see Iheanachor look like the first-round pick Pittsburgh drafted him as.
Iheanachor is big and athletic. He’s patient in his set and can seal the edge. The traits and tools are there. In 11 on 11, he struggled a little more to redirect against inside moves while his run blocking looked a little less impressive.
Unfortunately, the buzz didn’t last long. Iheanachor suffered a neck/shoulder injury on August 6. Save for returning for one very light individual session, he didn’t fully return until August 24. That’s at least giving him the chance to play in tonight’s finale, one that’ll be eagerly watched. The odds of him starting Week One are low; he’s simply missed so much time, but Dylan Cook hasn’t sewn up the job. If Iheanachor can play the way he looked in those practices, don’t count him out. If not, he figures to start sooner than later.
Camp Grade: Incomplete
Steven Jones
Jones is a player I’ve been high on dating back to his time at Oregon. In Pittsburgh for his second go-around with the team, Jones opened up as a second-team guard ahead of rookie Gennings Dunker at right guard.
Jones went down with an undisclosed injury midway through camp. He sat out a few days before returning but did not return to team drills by the time camp ended. He also sat out the first two preseason games with his status uncertain for tonight’s finale against Buffalo. If he has any chance of sticking to the practice squad, he needs to play.
Maybe the only saving grace is the backups have struggled so much that Jones looks better by default. Still, there just wasn’t enough padded work to properly judge his play.
Camp Grade: Incomplete
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