The 2025 season did not go the exact way that the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted it to as the team was eliminated in the Wild Card Round for the third straight season, but there were some surprises for Pittsburgh. A lot of young players showed meaningful development, and players like Kenneth Gainwell came out of nowhere. Gainwell wound up being the Team MVP for the year as he had the best season of his career. Another surprise however, was blocking for him at the end of the year. Dylan Cook was thrust into the starting lineup at left tackle, and he played like one of the best tackles in the league over his five-game stretch.
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Steelers offensive lineman Dylan Cook looks down at the playing surface as he walks around while the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Broderick Jones suffered a neck injury that required surgery during Pittsburgh's loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 12. He missed the rest of the season, and his backup Andrus Peat got injured while playing the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. This put Cook into the game, and he played well enough to start for the rest of the season. He was playing at a high level, and he should be considered for the starting left tackle job going into the 2026 season. The left tackle recently joined The Deep Ball Podcast, and he spoke about his current contract.
"So, they signed me to a two-year when I had 13 snaps to my name. They signed me through the duration of this year, and next year, but that was for veteran minimum salary," Cook said. "That was before I had started five games. I'm not mad about it; either way, it's nice to be thought of in that way. So, we'll let the agents do what we pay the agents to do. See where it goes, but happy to be back either way. It was funny, our assistant line coach was like, 'They got you, they trapped you. Like, they got what they wanted.' It was freakin' low risk or low reward. Again, I'll take it either way."
Cook signed a two-year deal with the Steelers during the 2025 offseason after spending two years with the team. It was a two-year contract worth a little more than $2 million, so the organization has definitely been able to get its money's worth out of that contract. It is not a bad contract for Cook as he was thought of as more of a practice squad player before getting an opportunity near the end of the 2025 season, but now it is clear the tackle is worth a bit more.
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Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook (60) during a regular season matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions.
Cook is signed through the 2026 season, so he will have to play the contract out. He is set to make just over $1 million in 2026. He could sign an extension or re-work his deal during the offseason, but after only playing in five games, it is hard to imagine the organization would do that. Cook spoke about his mindset going into a contract year.
"Absolutely, because after this next season, I'll be unrestricted," Cook said. "So this is a money making year for sure."
The Steelers will probably end up wanting to keep Cook around, but he is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season as mentioned. This means he can sign anywhere if he makes it to free agency, which is where the big money is. His focus is on upping his value in the mean time.
Matt Durisko / Associated Press
Steelers left tackle Dylan Cook blocking during Steelers preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Steelers May Have Position Battle At Left Tackle
As of right now, it is unclear who will be Pittsburgh's starting left tackle in 2026. Jones was the team's first-round pick in 2023, and Cook is an undrafted player who has been with the team since 2023 as well. One is more expensive than the other, and the franchise has to decide on Jones' fifth-year option during the 2026 offseason. Based on the way Cook played to end the 2026 season, he should end up winning the starting job. This could make Jones a trade piece, or the franchise can experiment with moving him to left guard as Isaac Seumalo might not be back in Pittsburgh.
What do you think about Cook's contract? Let us know in the comments below!
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