Steelers Likely To Reveal Bold Strategy For Mason McCormick In 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been determined to improve their offensive line. That commitment has been evident in their recent draft moves, including trading up to select Broderick Jones in 2023 and using their first-round pick in 2024 to draft Troy Fautanu. The Steelers continued to bolster their line by adding Mason McCormick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. McCormick, coming from South Dakota State, was considered a sneaky value pick due to his potential, and many believed he could make an immediate impact.

McCormick was quickly called into action when injuries hit the Steelers' offensive line during the 2024 season. Despite being thrust into a challenging situation, McCormick performed admirably, earning praise for his ability to step up when needed. His impressive performances have sparked excitement among Steelers fans, who are eager to see what the future holds for the young lineman. With the team's recent emphasis on improving the offensive line, McCormick's role in the years to come is a topic of growing interest.

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo recently addressed the curiosity surrounding McCormick's 2025 role during an appearance on the North Shore Drive podcast. While speaking with Chris Carter, Fittipaldo shared his expectations for McCormick in the upcoming season, offering insight into how the Steelers envision him contributing. As Pittsburgh continues to invest in its offensive line, McCormick’s development could be a key factor in the team's efforts to protect their quarterbacks and solidify their front five for many years to come.

"I do think [Mason] McCormick played well enough, and he's probably gonna come back and, to use a Mike Tomlin phrase, be in 'pole position' there," Fittipaldo said. "But I think they could very easily provide some competition for him. You could probably bring Nate Herbig back on a cheap deal."

Fittipaldo noted that free agent Nate Herbig, who was initially expected to compete with Zach Frazier for the starting center spot before suffering a season-ending injury, could be brought back to compete for a guard position. With a relatively low market value of just $1 million, re-signing Herbig wouldn’t be difficult for the Steelers. This scenario seems likely, with Herbig and McCormick likely to be the primary competitors for a starting guard role in 2025.

In contrast, fellow free agent guard James Daniels has a significantly higher market value at $7.8 million. That price tag might be above what the Steelers are willing to pay, especially given Daniels' own season-ending injury in 2024. 

The situation with Daniels is one to watch, as it's expected that he could be signed by another team for the 2025 season. However, the Steelers’ plans could change, and it remains to be seen how they’ll handle his future with the team.

Steelers Have A Lot Of Money To Play With In The 2025 Offseason

Of course, the Steelers have options in both the draft and free agency to bring in competition for McCormick and further strengthen their offensive line. According to Over The Cap, the Steelers are currently sitting at $60.263 million of cap space in their wallet. The Steelers have a ton of money and a bunch of areas to improve. This should make for a very exciting and interesting offseason.

With plenty of cap space available, Pittsburgh could allocate some of their budget to upgrading the position. That said, McCormick has already earned the confidence of both fans and the coaching staff, which makes a strong case for him to build on his opportunity in 2025.

Steelers fans are eagerly watching to see what moves the front office will make as the team addresses several key needs across the roster. With upgrades urgently required, the offensive line will undoubtedly be a major focus for Steeler Nation as they look for the team to solidify that unit moving forward.

#SteelerNation