Steelers' Position Battle "Down To The Wire" As Underrated Addition Could Make Noise

The Pittsburgh Steelers have several entertaining training camp battles that will be coming up once the team reports to Latrobe. A lot of these instances include younger players on the offensive side of the ball, and two of the battles are happening on the right side of the offensive line. First-round pick Max Iheanachor is going to be competing with Dylan Cook, while Gennings Dunker will be battling with Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman. Anderson and Cook are the two current starters, but a lot can change by the time Week 1 of the regular season comes around.

Dunker was instantly a fan favorite after the organization drafted him in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Fans want to see him get a chance to play at right guard, but he has significant competition. Anderson has filled in nicely for the Steelers over the last three seasons, and Hoffman is another experienced veteran who has a decent amount of experience. Hoffman has significant experience under new head coach Mike McCarthy as well, which could be a factor in deciding who wins the job at right guard. He hasn't been talked about a ton, but there is a good chance he could be a starter in Pittsburgh.

Beat writer Mark Kaboly spoke about the competition at right guard during a Monday morning appearance on 93.7 The Fan. He believes that this position battle will go down to the wire with all three guys competing.

"Now, I think it's going to be down to the wire at guard," Kaboly said. "They like Hoffman."

The way Kaboly spoke about things made it seem like he gives an advantage to Anderson or Hoffman when it comes to winning the job, and the competition could go throughout the entirety of training camp and the preseason. Dunker is naturally at a disadvantage as a rookie, but he could impress. It is also worth noting that there is no way of telling how this coaching staff will approach inserting rookies into the starting lineup. Mike Tomlin was more conservative about it, but McCarthy could be more aggressive.

Anderson has been on the field a decent amount throughout his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, but he really made a name for himself in 2025 when he was the offense's sixth offensive lineman. He was on the field a good amount to help out the running game, and he even caught a pass as well. This time around he is battling for the starting job, which would be the first time in his career he is entering a season as a starter at the professional level.

Hoffman spent four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Three of those years he played under McCarthy. He started 16 games in total, playing center most of the time. He is competing for the job at right guard, but could also be in competition with Ryan McCollum for the backup center job.

Steelers Relying On The Offensive Line More Than Ever

Offensive line play is often overlooked by the casual fan, but that should not be the case for the Steelers during the 2026 season. With a 42-year-old quarterback lining up under center, it is evident that protecting the quarterback is of the utmost importance. The line is also relatively young, so seeing meaningful development from all five positions is going to be something that fans and the organization want to see.

In addition to protecting an older quarterback, an impressive and consistent running game is also going to be important for the Steelers. This will be driven by the offensive line. Ideally, the Steelers will have a solid starting offensive line throughout the entire regular season, but with two rookies vying for snaps, changes will probably be made throughout the year.

What do you think about these comments from Kaboly? Who do you think will win the job? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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