The Pittsburgh Steelers front office has addressed the offensive line in a big way this offseason. Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig were two huge signings that revitalized the interior part of the line. While the two offensive tackle spots remain positions of need, the interior seems set. Or at least we thought. Between the signings and the return of veteran starters James Daniels and Mason Cole, many thought the interior was addressed.
-544x306.jpg "Pittsburgh Steelers OG Kevin Dotson")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers OG Kevin Dotson started in 2022, but what will happen to him with the new additions?
Even Kevin Dotson remains on the roster with his 30 career starts in three years, although that may not hold true for long. Surprisingly, the team has still met with several centers and guards in preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft. The team has paid close attention to prospects like Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz and TCU guard Steve Avila.
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It could simply be the scouting department doing its due diligence. If you know the Steelers though, they are quite methodical in their pre-draft process. Or at least they were with Kevin Colbert as general manager, as this is Omar Khan’s first draft in the new position. Khan will do some things differently than Colbert, but we still don’t know just how different that will look. Nonetheless, the team’s interest in the aforementioned interior linemen prospects led some to believe if the team could look at replacing Cole at center.
That would be a weird move, as he stepped in and started all 17 games last season for the Steelers. In addition to his availability, he played pretty well and became an important leader. Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th out of 36 centers in 2022 with a 67.1 overall grade. Team reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette doesn’t think the team is looking at moving on from Cole.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
"They have no problem w Mason Cole, and neither do I," Dulac said.
To be fair, none of the interior guys would likely warrant a top-50 pick, which the Steelers have three of. Cole is still only 27 years old, so he still has plenty of football left in him. He has two years remaining on his relatively cheap contract as well. He could be a cut candidate next offseason if his play declines in 2023, but for now, the talk seems silly. The team does seem to remain open to any ideas, but he was a staple on the line last season.
Even Daniels hasn't been clear of silly rumors, as there was some "speculation" that he could be a trade candidate. One thing is clear though, Khan and his crew are set on getting the team back to Pittsburgh Steelers football. That begins in the trenches, and they’ve done just that this offseason. Their efforts have been applauded by many pundits throughout the league, and rightfully so. The expectations are high in Pittsburgh again, which starts with winning their first playoff game since 2016.
What are your thoughts on the team looking at centers and guards for this year's draft class? Do you think Cole will stick around for a few more years? Where do you think Dotson will end up in 2023? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites!
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