‘Sweet Spot There For Offensive Line’: Analyst Names Three OTs Steelers Might Consider In First Round

The Pittsburgh Steelers did well in free agency to shore up several positions of need. Wide receiver, cornerback, and safety all seemed like spots that would make sense at the 21st overall pick, but they’re not as badly needed anymore. However, Pittsburgh didn’t do much to address the offensive line, a position that might be gaining steam as a first-round consideration.

It is to PFF’s Trevor Sikkema. Especially after solidifying the receiver position, Sikkema thinks the offensive line could be the Steelers’ best option in the first round.

“I think they did a really good job giving themselves the flexibility to draft who they really want to at 21,” Sikkema said Wednesday on his PFF NFL Show. “And I think it could be a sweet spot there for offensive line. Like, Blake Miller, Max Iheanachor, Caleb Lomu. You know, are those guys available where you get to draft one of them?”

Sikkema’s far from the only analyst recently to suggest offensive line in the first round. And these are some interesting names. Blake Miller, Max Iheanachor and Caleb Lomu all stand a decent chance of being available once the Steelers go on the clock.

The fits would be interesting, though. For one, the Steelers have more of an opening at left guard than anywhere else on the offensive line. Perhaps it would make sense to aim for someone like Olaivavega Ioane instead, who can slot in at that position, even though they might have to move up a few spots. After all, the Steelers did get some good play from Dylan Cook to end the 2025 season, giving them a security blanket at left tackle.

However, it came on a small sample size, and Broderick Jones is recovering from a serious neck injury. So there is some argument to be made for a tackle early in the draft. But two of the tackles Sikkema named, Miller and Iheanachor, played right tackle in college. To Sikkema, the Steelers could draft a right tackle and move Troy Fautanu to the left side.

“Whether they played right tackle or left tackle in college, I don’t think it specifically matters for the Steelers. Because Troy Fautanu played left tackle in college, plays right tackle for the Steelers. He’s got that flexibility to him,” Sikkema said.

Fautanu does have plenty of experience playing left tackle at Washington. He’s transitioning nicely to the right side in the NFL. However, switching him to a different position could be risky. It didn’t help Broderick Jones to be moved back and forth around the line. After a good performance in 2025, it does make some sense to keep Fautanu put.

However, the offensive line should still be a strong consideration with at least one of the Steelers’ early picks. It never hurts to add more depth to that unit. And although the Steelers might be comfortable with Spencer Anderson starting, there’s a lot of inexperience on that side of the line aside from Jones. Sikkema thinks a fix for that could come in the first round.