Steelers Facing A Seriously Concerning Issue On Offense As Group Has Struggled Through 3 Weeks

The Pittsburgh Steelers went into the 2025 season with several worries throughout the roster. One of the most talked about problems amongst fans has been the quality of the depth at wide receiver behind DK Metcalf, while depth on the defensive line was also considered an issue. However, the offensive line arguably creates the biggest problem for Pittsburgh. The group consists of a lot of youth aside from left guard Isaac Seumalo, who is in the final year of his contract with Pittsburgh.

Seumalo was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent most of his career in Philadelphia before signing with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2023 season. He has been the team's starting left guard ever since signing, and he was considered reliable throughout his first two seasons with the Steelers. Things have seemed to take a turn in 2025, as the guard is not playing as well as many fans have grown to expect.

Through three games, which is not much of a sample size, Seumalo has seemed to struggle when it comes to blocking in the run game. By no means should he be considered one of the weakest links on the offensive side of the ball, but it is fair to say that people have come to expect more from the veteran left guard. In 2025, he has registered a run blocking grade of 61.7 according to Pro Football Focus. It is a goal of Pittsburgh's to establish the run, and the team is going to need some better performances from Seumalo in order to do that.

Seumalo had typically been a pretty reliable part of Pittsburgh's offensive line, which is why the slow start to 2025 might be concerning. Every other player on the offensive line is in their second or third season in the league, and Seumalo needs to be a reliable player while those younger guys continue to grow. Team insider Mike DeFabo even made some comments on 93.7 The Fan about Seumalo's concerning play early on in the 2025 season.

"I don't think that he's played nearly well enough," DeFabo said. "I've truthfully been underwhelmed by Seumalo his entire career here with the Steelers. He's been up and down. He really has been throughout Steelers tenure. And I agree with you that he was at least partially responsible for a couple of the sacks this season. So it's not just the young guys who were struggling."

Some of the younger players on the offensive line including Broderick Jones, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, and Troy Fautanu have had their struggles in 2025. However, that is to be expected as every player is just beginning their NFL career and Jones is adjusting to switching to the left side of the line. 

Seumalo has struggled to be the reliable mainstay that he is supposed to be at left guard. Hopefully that is something that changes throughout the season, which could be the case considering he was hurt for a lot of training camp.

Steelers' Isaac Seumalo Is Likely In His Final Season With The Team

Seumalo signed a three-year deal during the 2023 offseason and he is in the final year of that contract. He will become a free agent after the 2025 season comes to an end, and it is hard to imagine that Pittsburgh will entertain bringing him back for anything more than an absolute bargain. 

Left guard will probably be a position the team will look to fill early on in the 2026 NFL Draft or through free agency, while Spencer Anderson could also be an option if the organization feels confident in him moving forward.

What do you think about Seumalo's play so far in 2025? Let us know in the comments below!

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