How Good Is The Steelers Offensive Line? A Look At Their Progress

The Pittsburgh Steelers, a team known for its grit and storied past, finds itself under a bright spotlight. Fans, commentators, and, you know, just about everyone, are looking closely at what the 2025 season might bring. While there’s a lot of chatter about new faces under center, a big part of the team's future success, arguably the whole story of the offense, really, rests with its big guys up front: the offensive line. This group often works in the shadows, but their play can truly make or break a team's chances at a winning season.

There's a tremendous amount of expectation on the Steelers to make 2025 a year that truly counts. So, it's pretty natural to wonder if this year's team is stronger or weaker than previous versions. When we talk specifically about the offensive line, this question gets a bit tricky to answer, in a way. The group has seen some changes, and its journey has been quite a ride over the past few seasons, to be honest.

You see, after some years of putting draft picks and money into the offensive line, the Steelers actually seem to be on a path to building a truly solid unit. This commitment to rebuilding the offensive line became pretty clear with Omar Khan taking charge and Andy Weidl coming back from Philadelphia. They really want to build something dominant, similar to what we’ve seen from other top teams. So, how good are they, really?

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Table of Contents

• A Journey of Change and Growth
• The 2024 Season: A Turnaround
  • Key Additions and Young Talent
  • Broderick Jones and His Role
• The Challenge Ahead for 2025
  • The Need for Experienced Coaching
  • Overcoming Struggles and Injuries
• A Look at the Rankings
• What to Watch for Next
• Frequently Asked Questions

A Journey of Change and Growth

The Steelers have made some pretty big adjustments to their offensive line, particularly for the 2025 season. You lose a player like Dan Moore to free agency, for instance, which changes the dynamic a bit. But with the team revamping its line ahead of the 2024 season, it didn’t take very long to see the Steelers pop up on lists, like being ranked 9th on PFF’s list of the best offensive lines. This shows a clear movement in the right direction, a real push for better play up front, you know?

For a while there, the Steelers offensive line was, frankly, not great. We saw it in the preseason, where the play was just awful, honestly. But, it seems they really did figure something out as the season went on. The play under center, with time split between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, was subpar, and the offensive line play was poor at times, too it's almost. This highlights just how much impact the line has on the whole offense’s ability to perform. When they struggle, everyone struggles.

The commitment to fixing this area has been evident. The front office has made a clear effort to rebuild the offensive line, aiming to copy the kind of dominant play seen in other top teams. This isn't just a quick fix; it's a long-term plan, which is pretty obvious given their actions. After years of putting draft capital and money into the offensive line, the Steelers finally seem to be on the right track to building a strong unit, which is good news for fans, really.

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The 2024 Season: A Turnaround

During the 2024 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line actually showed quite a bit of improvement compared to earlier years. This was a welcome sight for everyone who follows the team. They were able to stay together as a unit, and that continuity, in a way, really helped them get better. It’s pretty clear that when a group plays together for a while, they learn each other's movements and tendencies, and that just makes a difference.

Key Additions and Young Talent

A big reason for this change comes from the fresh faces they brought in. The Steelers picked three offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, which is a pretty significant investment. They took tackle Troy Fautanu in the first round, center Zach Frazier in the second, and guard Mason McCormick. These young players are meant to be the future, and their development is near the top of the list of things to watch, even with all the talk about quarterback signings, so.

This group, with its youth, needs guidance. It's high time for the Steelers to invest heavily in an experienced and respected offensive line coach, especially when you think about how young this group is. A good coach can shape these young players, helping them grow and become truly great. This kind of coaching is, you know, pretty essential for a young line to reach its full potential.

Broderick Jones and His Role

Broderick Jones, who has spent the past two years playing for the team, is a key part of this young offensive line. His continued development is very important for the unit's overall strength. As a young player, he's still growing into his role, and his performance will tell a lot about how good the line can become. Players like him, alongside the new draft picks, really form the core of what the Steelers are trying to build up front.

The Challenge Ahead for 2025

Even with the improvements, there's still work to do. Offensive line issues could be a yearlong struggle for Pittsburgh if things don't go just right. If the Steelers are to overcome this, a handful of things need to happen. It's not just about talent; it's about cohesion, health, and, you know, continued progress. The line needs to keep getting better, and that takes effort every single day.

The Need for Experienced Coaching

As mentioned, getting a seasoned offensive line coach is really important. This young group needs someone who has been there, done that, and can teach them the finer points of playing together. An experienced coach can help them gel faster, which is pretty important for a unit that relies so much on working as one. Without that kind of leadership, the development might be slower than fans hope for, or at least that's a concern.

Overcoming Struggles and Injuries

Outside of numerous injuries, which is always a concern for any team, the Steelers offensive line has had its moments of struggle. We saw them in the preseason, but they did appear to have figured something out during the regular season. The key for 2025 will be to avoid those early struggles and build on the improvements they showed. Staying healthy, in a way, is also a huge part of being a good offensive line; a consistent lineup helps everyone play better.

A Look at the Rankings

As we do every year, people are ranking all 32 offensive lines and looking at what each team has done—or not done—to improve. The Steelers, as noted, made it to 9th on PFF’s list of best offensive lines after revamping their group ahead of the 2024 season. This is a pretty big jump and shows that the efforts they put in are being recognized. It’s a good sign, really, that they are moving in the right direction.

This ranking suggests that the Steelers are seen as having a solid foundation. While the signing of Aaron Rodgers has dominated the conversation in recent weeks, the development of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ young offensive line is near the top of the list of things that matter most for the team's future. It’s a quiet but very important part of the overall picture, in some respects.

What to Watch for Next

So, if the Steelers do not do anything significant on the offensive line through free agency or the draft, don’t be disappointed. The current group has shown it can improve, and the focus might be on continuity and internal growth. The 2022 and 2023 seasons had their challenges, but the 2024 season brought clear steps forward. The big question now is whether they are actually good enough to keep intact next season, or if more changes are needed.

The debut of "Seven Shots" at training camp, for instance, a drill that gets a lot of attention, will be interesting to watch. It's Coach Tomlin’s signature period, where the offense gets seven chances from the goal line. This drill often gives an early look at how the offensive line is gelling and performing under pressure. It's a small snapshot, but it can tell you a little bit about where they stand, you know?

To learn more about the Steelers' overall team strategy on our site, you can find plenty of discussion. And to get a deeper look at how individual players are performing, be sure to link to this page for player profiles. The journey of the offensive line is a continuous one, and their progress will be a key storyline for the Steelers moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

How important is an offensive line in the NFL?

An offensive line can truly make or break an NFL team’s season. They protect the quarterback, open running lanes for ball carriers, and set the tone for the entire offense. If they don't play well, the whole team can struggle to move the ball, basically.

Who are the key players on the Steelers offensive line?

Broderick Jones is a significant young player who has been with the team for a couple of years. The Steelers also added three new linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft: tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier, and guard Mason McCormick. These players are expected to be the core of the group.

What changes have the Steelers made to their offensive line recently?

The Steelers made significant adjustments to their offensive line for the 2025 season, including losing Dan Moore to free agency. They also selected three offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, showing a clear commitment to rebuilding and improving the unit.