Steelers rookie IOL Mason McCormick could find his way to the starting lineup in 2024
Pittsburgh’s selection in the fourth round may have a larger purpose.
With tackle Troy Fautanu and center Zach Frazier as their first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Steelers proceeded to restructure their offensive line.
The addition of tackle Broderick Jones, selected in the first round of the previous year, and the recent acquisition of starting linebackers James Daniels (2022) and Isaac Seumalo (2023) as free agents gave the impression that the work was finished.
Thus, not many people anticipated that the Steelers would select an offensive lineman with their fourth-round pick.
Pick No. 119 would bring South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick into the league as the newest member of the Steelers.
Was McCormick selected merely to provide depth, or did the Steelers consider him a possible starter and overlook more pressing needs?
Although McCormick made all 57 of his college starts at left guard, he was regarded as a versatile offensive lineman as a prospect because he could play all five positions.
It seems like McCormick’s only (fastest?) route to playing time is at guard after the top picks in the last two drafts were utilized to choose both tackles and a center. Most likely, McCormick is trying to get someone off the roster. Who could that be?
The Steelers’ offensive line is being rebuilt.
Omar Khan was appointed general manager of the Steelers in May 2022, and Andy Weidl was brought in to serve as assistant general manager.
Most of the responsibility for driving the offensive line rebuilding goes to Weidl. With the exception of Daniels and left tackle Dan Moore, Khan and Weidl have replaced every offensive lineman they took over since being hired.
To show they are willing to move up from Moore, they selected collegiate left tackles with back-to-back first-round selections. During their initial free agency run, they invested on guards Seumalo and Nate Herbig.
Weidl began his career in Philadelphia’s player personnel department, and both began their careers with the Eagles. Daniels, Seumalo, and Herbig gave the Steelers three experienced players to man the two guard positions, and things appeared to be going well.
Just a month after spending that money, the Steelers would use 4 of their 30 allowed pre-draft visits to meet with more guards. At the 2022 draft, they would use a seventh-round pick on Spencer Anderson.
Anderson, like McCormick, was touted to have the versatility to potentially play all five positions. He would make the final 53-man roster as a depth player on the interior, as the Steelers had four players (Moore, Jones, Chuks Okorafor, and Dylan Cook) make it specifically as tackles.
It doesn’t make enough sense to use a fourth-round pick on McCormick simply for more interior depth with Seumalo, Daniels, Herbig, and Anderson already on the roster.
It’s highly unlikely that the Steelers would keep all five. At tackle, Moore is the only one with a season’s worth of experience. Jones and Fautanu are locks to make the final 53.
Cook lacks experience and versatility, but would the Steelers use a fourth-round pick just to replace the fourth tackle when Anderson already supplies that same ability?
Moore is the only tackle in the group with a full season of experience. Fautanu and Jones are certainties to make the final 53. Although Cook lacks versatility and experience, would the Steelers take a fourth-round pick to replace Cook at fourth tackle when Anderson has that same skill?
Most likely, McCormick is trying to get someone off the roster. The only one who wasn’t personally chosen by Khan and Weidl is Daniels; Cook, Herbig, and Daniels are all in the last years of their contracts. Daniels’ relocation would free up an extra $8.25 million in cap space in 2024.
It would make more sense to choose McCormick rather than Daniels in the first round if the Steelers are satisfied with their other options. Daniels might be included in a trade before the season begins.
You shouldn’t be shocked if Daniels moves by the end of training camp. It was against FCS competition, but if McCormick’s 57 starts at guard are the reason, don’t be shocked.
