Steelers' Plan To Fill Center Postion Requires Fans To Have A Little Faith In Omar Khan

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have someone snap the ball to Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in 2024 and beyond. Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin did not forget that. The Steelers have signed or traded for three huge upgrades on defense, adding Patrick Queen, DeShon Elliott and Donte Jackson, but did not make a successful play for any of the top free-agent centers. 

On Friday, Mark Kaboly from The Athletic joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller and discussed the center position, or lack thereof, with Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller. Kaboly expressed faith that the Steelers' general manager and head coach have a plan for the position. It just is not clear what it is at this point. 

"There has to be a plan somewhere," Kaboly said. "Maybe we will find out Sunday when Tomlin talks in Orlando. I'm pretty much holding my breath on that one. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out they don't have much in the way of options."

The Steelers were reportedly in the mix for Mitch Morse, the former Buffalo Bills' center, who was released before he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Most of what were thought to be the top free-agent targets at the position have found a home. Kaboly observed that the current roster options do not exactly inspire confidence.

"If you got Nate Herbig with his 58 career center snaps and James Daniels, who I would not want to move from being one of the better guards in the league in a potential contract year, tell him to move to center. I'm not too interested in that. You also got Spencer Anderson who might be a wild card novice, but he's only started five games at center."

Fillipponi pointed out that they are paying Nate Herbig a lot of money to back up James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo. While this didn't inspire confidence, it might be Tomlin and Pat Meyer's best option on the current roster. Daniels's move to center has been repeatedly rejected publicly by the organization. 

The idea of Spencer Anderson moving over to center after just five games at the position for the University of Maryland is eerily reminiscent of the thinking that went into the Kendrick Green debacle. After an impressive rookie season on the practice field, Anderson is rumored to be in the mix for the right tackle position. It leaves the Steelers with precious few options outside the organization at this point. 

"You go outside, you look at a guy like Connor Williams," Kaboly said. "Here's a guy who, if you're lucky, is going to be healthy by September, right? You can't guarantee you are going to get a guy in the draft. That might be their thought, but you can't guarantee that. There has to be some plan in place here. I'm concerned about it because one weak link in that offensive line, that effects Russell Wilson, that effects the run game, that effects Arthur Smith. I would assume they have a plan. It just hasn't really shown itself yet."

If Connor Williams had not injured his knee, he would likely still be on the Miami Dolphins. He tore his ACL in December, and there is genuine concern that the injury could linger well into the 2024 regular season. Williams is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, which may complicate matters. The infamous agent could be holding firm to what would have been a top-of-the-market free agent contract demand before the injury. 

Kaboly was then asked if that left the Steelers as the most likely home for Jackson Powers-Johnson in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Athletic scribe pointed out that he might be the best option in the draft, but that does not mean that Khan and Andy Weidl would get a chance to pick him. He wasn't even sure if they should choose the Oregon Ducks center. 

"I still like a tackle in that first round. There are teams that are center needy right above them, too. If you are sitting there at 20 and the Rams are at 19, I know they need a defensive tackle now, but you take that chance, or do you move up to the top 15 to take a guy like that? You better be darn sure, he's coming in day one and starting. That's why I would like to have a backup plan. Get a guy in the second round, maybe early third then have a veteran." 

The Steelers' best option, barring an unforeseen trade, is to draft one of the top centers in the NFL draft in April. Powers-Johnson is a rare first-round talent at the position. Still, Pittsburgh has other options, like Zach Frazier from West Virginia or the two-time National Champion Sedrick Van Pran from the Georgia Bulldogs. 

Both players are capable of starting as rookies, but there is an element of risk. If Powers-Johnson comes off the board before the Steelers pick or if they follow Kaboly's advice and select a tackle in the first round, other teams could snatch Frazier and Van Pran earlier than expected or, worse, force the Steelers to draft one of them much earlier than they planned. 

Steelers' General Manager Omar Khan Has Earned Trust From The Fan Base

It is hard to imagine Khan backing himself into a corner and having to draft out of desperation after the 2023 NFL draft. At this point, if any general manager deserves the benefit of the doubt, it is Khan. During his short tenure, he has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to spin straw into gold. The Steelers' general manager moves on quickly and learns from past mistakes. As Kaboly said, there is a plan. No one knows what it is, but in Khan, we trust. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Which player do you want to see in the middle of the Steelers line in September? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.

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