The Pittsburgh Steelers have a pretty decent roster on paper, and it will be especially interesting to see how the team performs in 2026 under a new coaching staff. One of the biggest areas of mystery comes on the offensive line, as it remains unclear where some players might be lining up once the regular season rolls around. Pittsburgh is also expected to have an open competition at left guard, which adds another layer of intrigue in the trenches. The franchise is not alone in this at this time of the year, as the Baltimore Ravens also have some major questions that need to be answered on the offensive line.
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Former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum celebrates with quarterback Lamar Jackson during a game in Pittsburgh at the end of the 2025 season.
One of the biggest free agent signings of the 2026 offseason was center Tyler Linderbaum signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. Baltimore did not sign their franchise center, and now he is with the Raiders. This leaves a gigantic hole in front of quarterback Lamar Jackson. It is obviously an area that needs to be ironed out, which is why it was somewhat shocking to see the Ravens not draft a center in 2026. The only experienced center on the roster currently is Danny Pinter, while there are some other options in Baltimore.
Ravens beat writer Jamison Hensley recently went on SportsCenter, and he spoke about Baltimore's situation at center.
"Lamar would like to know, because this is the guy that's blocking right in front of him," Hensley said. "The expectation was that the Ravens were gonna draft a center, but they didn't use any of their 11 draft picks on a center because the top prospects went off the board faster than expected. At this point, it really looks like the Ravens' starting center is currently on another team's roster. Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta mentioned the possibility of exploring a trade. DeCosta has insisted the Ravens have a plan, and come September, they'll have their best team out there on the field."
Hensley noted that the starting center for the Ravens in 2026 is probably on another team's roster at this moment in time. That is where the Steelers come into play. Obviously Zach Frazier has turned into a franchise center for Pittsburgh, but it is the guys behind him on the depth chart that make a trade with Baltimore possible.
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Steelers' Ryan Mccollum during the 2024 NFL season in Pittsburgh.
The main name to look at would be Ryan McCollum. He has been a center in Pittsburgh for four seasons, and he is entering his fifth year with the franchise. He has been a reliable backup center, and he has earned some starting experience over the years. He started one game for Pittsburgh in 2025, and he started two games while playing in three in 2024. He really impressed when he was on the field in 2024, and that is something that could have caught Baltimore's eye as the franchise looks for its next center.
The rest of Pittsburgh's roster also makes McCollum somewhat expendable for the Steelers. Brock Hoffman was signed during free agency. He mostly plays guard, but he does have NFL experience at center. The organization also just signed undrafted free agent Greg Crippen, and it has been reported that coaches have been impressed by him.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Owner Art Rooney II on the field at a team practice while having a discussion.
Steelers Have Engaged In Trade Talks With Division Rivals Before
Trading a player like McCollum within the division would certainly be rare for Pittsburgh, but these types of trades have happened in the past. The Steelers acquired defensive lineman Chris Wormley from the Ravens during the 2020 offseason, which was the second ever trade between the two franchises. A deal for McCollum would be the third, and it would hopefully net the Steelers a decent Day 3 selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.
What do you think about a potential trade between the Ravens and the Steelers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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