Welcome to my NEW regular article, “This n’at”, a collection of notes and thoughts regarding all things Steelers.
The goal is to produce a new article each week, though output may be lower during the slower parts of the offseason. I’ll cover all topics regarding the Steelers, from the biggest news to the more subtle intricacies that you may have missed.
I want to become your one-click stop for Steelers updates and opinions. Check out the first version below, give me a follow on X, and let me know what you think!
Offensive Line
Organized team activities began on Monday, and they brought immediate, unexpected news regarding the offensive line. Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick manned the left side, while Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook occupied the right – opposite of last year’s alignment.
There had been speculation of Fautanu moving to the left side after the first round selection of Max Iheanachor, who played right tackle at Arizona State. What surprised was Mason McCormick moving to the left side. Mike McCarthy was determined to solidify the left side of the line and found a logical avenue to make it happen.
While in college, Fautanu started 29 games at left tackle, and McCormick, 47, all at left guard. These positions are anything but new for these guys – if anything, they’re being moved back to their natural spots.
Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson began OTAs with the first team, but Max Iheanachor is expected to take over at right tackle, and Gennings Dunker will get a chance to prove himself at right guard. With a combined 68 collegiate starts along the right side, it behooves the coaching staff to let those young players stay where they are comfortable.
The years-long rebuild of the offensive line feels complete in terms of its players, but it will take time to solidify as a unit. I have complete faith in proven offensive line coach James Campen and his new assistant, former All-Pro guard Jahri Evans.
Keep 4 QBs?
Aaron Rodgers’ return completed the Steelers’ offseason quarterback room, bringing the total to 4, but it also brought questions: Who will they cut as they reduce the roster to 53 players before the season starts?
Rodgers and his salary, worth up to $25M, are obviously safe. Mike McCarthy’s presumably handpicked 3rd round pick, Drew Allar, is also safe. If one is to be cut, it will come down to Will Howard or Mason Rudolph. All indications are that the front office and new coaching staff really like Will Howard, and it shows.
Howard received 2nd team reps during the first week of OTAs, and some speculated this was to showcase him as a potential trade candidate. While he could be a trade candidate, I believe the reps were genuine to give him a real opportunity to show how his mind and body have developed since being sidelined with a broken finger prior to the 2025 preseason. Valuable reps would not be wasted on the possibility of gaining a 5th round return for Howard instead of a 6th.
Mason Rudolph is the most reasonable QB to be moved off the roster. His $4.6M cap hit is manageable for most teams, and he has 19 starts in his 6-year career. Rudolph could be a valuable backup to many teams, but moving Rudolph would leave no playing experience behind the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers. Not a wise move for a team that is clearly expecting to be competitive in 2026.
Keeping 4 quarterbacks should not be off the table. It makes the gameday roster more difficult because you lose a valuable special teams contributor, but the potential reward largely outweighs the risk. Rodgers and Rudolph give you a chance to compete and win, Howard and Allar give you two young QBs to develop for the future.
Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff have stressed positional versatility. Having a bevvy of players who are capable of contributing at multiple positions lessens your need to carry so many position players. An offensive lineman who can play multiple positions makes your roster more flexible, no different than safeties playing at nickel or extremely versatile players like Eli Heidenreich, who projects as a 4-phase special teamer, wide receiver and running back.
4 QBs is not far-fetched, and this roster is built to handle it, especially if it’s a baby step towards finding the QB of the future.
New Contracts and a Hold In
Chris Halicke of dkpittsburghsports.com reported that Joey Porter Jr. has been present for OTAs, but has not worked out with the team. With him entering the final season of his rookie deal, all signs point to a hold in.
Holding in is well within his rights, and not unexpected, but I doubt that it will end any time soon. The Steelers typically negotiate contract extensions in order of difficulty, starting with the easiest. They have already extended Chris Boswell, making him the highest-paid kicker in the league, deservedly so. Also lining up for extensions are Spencer Anderson, Darnell Washington, Keanu Benton, Nick Herbig, and of course, Joey Porter Jr.
With the sudden depth along the offensive line, Anderson may not be a priority, as the team signed Brock Hoffman in free agency and drafted Gennings Dunker, both to play guard. Washington and Benton should be relatively easy deals to work out and middle market players.
Herbig and Porter are more difficult. Porter will demand, and deserves, top of the market cornerback money – and he’ll get it. Herbig is an even more difficult negotiation. He’s the third man behind one of the best edge duos in the NFL in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, and he would likely start on most other teams. Along with being the third man, he was largely held back by the previous coaching staff, giving him less production to use as a negotiating tool.
There are a lot of other teams that would like to get their hands on Herbig, likely 31 of them. Whether he holds out for starter money, or agrees to an incentive laden reserve contract, Herbig is wanted in Pittsburgh and I’m optimistic a deal gets done. A strong room of edges, including Jack Sawyer, could give the Steelers defense an identity they desperately need.
