Steelers' Veteran Bids Farewell To SteelerNation In Heartwarming Goodbye Post

The Pittsburgh Steelers are nearing the free agency period of the offseason, where it is currently unknown what the team will do. They have plenty of needs on the roster, so they can't necessarily go wrong with what position group they target. Until that time comes however, they have decisions to make internally. They have plenty of cut candidates, but General Manager Omar Khan has made it clear they don't plan to move on from any big names. They have already made two polarizing cuts though, leading into free agency.

Tight end Jonnu Smith and offensive tackle Calvin Anderson are the latest players to depart from Pittsburgh. For Anderson, he was released after spending the last two seasons in the Black and Gold. He didn't start a game for the franchise, but he was a solid backup when called upon due to injury, most notably in the 2024 Wild Card Round against the division rival Baltimore Ravens, when he stepped in for an injured Dan Moore Jr. His play allowed Russell Wilson to throw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, despite the loss. Anderson didn't play much in 2025 however, as he spent the majority of the season on injured reserve. Anderson's injury led to the emergence of Dylan Cook, who is likely to be the starting left tackle in 2026, pending Broderick Jones' neck injury, making Anderson the odd man out. 

Anderson recently took to X to show his gratitude for the city of Pittsburgh and thanked Steeler Nation for their hospitality. 

As previously mentioned, Anderson only spent two seasons with the Steelers, yet he was still able to build great relationships not only with his teammates, but also with the fans. Anderson must now find a new home, and his injury-related unavailability will make that hard. 

He is a solid swing-tackle to have on a roster and can play both sides well enough not alter the game plan due to injury. Hopefully, Anderson will find this new home sooner rather than later.  

Steelers Have Options For Anderson's Replacement

Luckily for the Steelers, the decision to replace Anderson isn't necessarily a big loss. After all, he only dressed for nine games in 2025. The Steelers could look to re-sign Andrus Peat, who played well in his three starts. Peat is a three-time Pro Bowler, but those accolades came when he was a guard for the New Orleans Saints. Peat's best days are long behind him, but he could still be a viable option as a backup tackle. 

There are also free agents the team could look to go after to provide solid depth and even give Cook some competition as the starter. Jonah Williams of the Arizona Cardinals is not likely to be re-signed after a rough stint as a Cardinal. Williams is a former first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals and helped them reach a Super Bowl. Williams' days as a starter are likely behind him, but a role as a swing tackle could be perfect for him. He has played both of the offensive tackle spots throughout his career. 

Jamaree Salyer of the Los Angeles Chargers is another player who would meet the Steelers' needs. For the last four seasons, Salyer was part of one of the NFL's worst offensive lines. He was an inconsistent starter, but played most of the positions in the trenches. The Steelers already have depth on the interior of the offensive line, but Salyer would be able to focus solely on the tackle spots. 

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