Steelers Insider Believes An Important Reunion Is On The Horizon

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been an active team in free agency thus far, especially for their standards. The Black and Gold have addressed concerns at major positions of need like their receivers, running back depth, and the secondary. Though being active, the Steelers have yet to give a clear answer to who their starting left guard will be. Pittsburgh has its versatile offensive lineman in Spencer Anderson, but he has yet to see a permanent role on the line. Anderson serves primarily as a position-less player who even lined up as a fullback and tight end last season. 

Anderson not having a permanent spot on the line adds to the risk for Pittsburgh. While the team has yet to name anyone as a starter at left guard since it's too early in the year, the lack of attention at the position this offseason leads one to believe the team will address this later with a draft pick and/or another veteran. This would leave Anderson as a solid depth piece and put him at a position where he plays the best: any of them. 

While many of the league's best free agent guards are off the board at this point, the Steelers have many short-term, low-risk deals waiting for them. This includes the likes of a guard who has played for the Steelers in the past and was a good player during his tenure, James Daniels. 

Daniels is known as being a positive locker room presence and is coming off a season with the Miami Dolphins that was riddled with injuries. Steelers beat reporter Christopher Carter gave his opinion on the team reuniting with their former offensive lineman. 

"An option the Steelers could consider is a guy they know, James Daniels. James Daniels was liked in the Steelers locker room," Carter said. "He was a good communicator. He was a good athlete. In the games he played before he was injured, he was graded one of the best offensive linemen on the team."

The Steelers would find themselves with a cheap contract that brings back a lineman who is familiar with the Steelers' culture and brings a great level of leadership to the locker room. The rest of the Steelers' offensive line is very young, and a leader like Daniels gives a huge boost to the development of the position group. 

Daniels' tenure with the Steelers included the injury bug, as it did in Miami. Despite this, he was one of the top guards in the league when he was healthy. Many believed the signing to be an underrated addition to the team when he was initially signed by Pittsburgh. Daniels proved healthy for Pittsburgh in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, playing 17 and 15 games, respectively. His injury in 2024 paved the way for rising star Mason McCormick to make his mark. Daniels left to go to the Dolphins, where he only played one game. Daniels, when healthy, would be a solid signing for Pittsburgh, and his veteran status proves to be something that the Steelers' line is lacking. 

The Steelers Likely Need A Vet To Mentor A Young Offensive Line Draft Pick

The Steelers have built their roster with the intention of adding young players to their core, who can learn from the veterans at the position. Pittsburgh has done this on its defensive line, where veteran Cam Heyward has taught the young linemen of the room a thing or two. The same idea would benefit the offensive line, especially if the Steelers' brass decide to take a flyer on a guard project as they did with McCormick. It proved to work with him as he is now the long-term starter at right guard and continues to get better. 

This strategy would shore up Pittsburgh's trenches for the future, as the whole line would be a majority of homegrown draft picks. Steelers adding youth to their line, again, wouldn't be a surprise. 

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