The Pittsburgh Steelers have been putting a strong emphasis on the offensive line in recent years. Three of the last four first-round picks have been offensive tackles. Other key pieces were brought in recently via the draft, including second-round center Zach Frazier and fourth-round guard Mason McCormick. This is a very young unit that has elite upside, but it will need time to gel together and grow into that unstoppable force up front. As long as everyone develops properly, they could rival Mike Munchak's squad from the mid-to-late 2010s.
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Steelers offensive linemen Mason McCormick (66) and Zach Frazier (54) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Unfortunately, keeping a unit like this around for the long-term seems to be easier said than done. In his latest Q&A chat, Steelers insider Christopher Carter explained how this will be an issue and who will probably be forced to walk away.
"McCormick is a very solid guard who I think they should keep," Carter said. "I just don't know if they'll invest a third big contract on the OL to keep him if they pay the others (Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier)."
As long as they continue growing, there is no question that Frazier and Troy Fautanu will eventually get their paydays. You need a cornerstone blindside blocker and franchise center to thrive in the modern offense, so those two men will be due for extensions after the 2026 season. They will also be key in helping the linemen from the recent rookie class to thrive and develop proper chemistry.
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Zach Frazier and Troy Fautanu work on blocking drills during Organized Team Activities (OTAs)
McCormick is a key part of this too. He has developed insane chemistry with Fautanu, and it has made them both better players. However, Carter does not see him getting the bag that he will deserve. The men on either side of him will get their cash, but the guard will have to walk in free agency and try to fit in elsewhere despite the fact that he should get paid to stay in Pittsburgh.
Typically, guards are easier and cheaper to find than tackles and centers. As cruel as it sounds, it's probably the least impactful position on the offensive line. In the modern NFL, there are plenty of teams that will take a struggling offensive tackle and turn him into a top-tier guard. That would make it make sense to allow McCormick to walk and pick up a compensatory pick from whoever pays him.
Steelers Appear To Be Planning For The Exact Opposite
On the other hand, the chemistry that Fautanu and McCormick have most likely can't be replicated for either man if they were to be separated. They are both great linemen, but when they're playing next to each other, they find another gear to hit. Replacing the left guard may be somewhat easy to do physically, but the mental game and the overall chemistry most likely would not be there.
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Steelers offensive linemen Troy Fautanu (76) and Mason McCormick (66) set up prior to the ball being snapped while the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
When the Steelers moved Fautanu from the right side to the left side, they had McCormick switch too. That was not done just to shake things up or be different for the sake of being different. They made the move because of their strong understanding of how the two men operate together. Fautanu even said that he never wants to play next to anyone else.
That move says that the Steelers are not interested in treating McCormick like a two-year rental. He will most likely get paid along with Fautanu and Frazier. Those three guys will end up being the cornerstone linemen that Pittsburgh has been desperately searching for since 2021. The future is here, and with the salary cap constantly rising, there should be enough money for all three of them.
What do you think about McCormick possibly being forced to leave in free agency? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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