The Pittsburgh Steelers are in full swing as training camp has just begun in Latrobe at Saint Vincent College. However, this will be the first year of camp under new head coach Mike McCarthy, and things already look very different. After 19 years of routine, the Black and Gold have a new leader and an almost entirely different staff that has a different set of expectations for the players. Things like earlier practice times, a detail-oriented approach, and a new scheme have kept players on their toes as they work in a new system.
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Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy walks with his arm around quarterback Aaron Rodgers at 2026 training camp.
Under the new regime, players have been working through important walkthroughs and an installation period; the team has already completed its first week, and some preliminary questions about player usage and position battles have yet to get a clear answer. One of the main storylines of the offseason is what the right side of the offensive line will look like. With 2025 starting right tackle Troy Fautanu and right guard Mason McCormick switching to the left side, the right is wide open.
Right tackle is where things are interesting, with Dylan Cook, a spot starter at left tackle in 2025, being a top option for the spot; there is some pushback based on the fact that he only started a handful of games last season. Additionally, those are his only career starts in the NFL.
If he does get the lead job, he might be in for a full season of starts, which could be tough for someone who had once been viewed as a practice/depth player. CBS Sports analyst Emory Hunt believes that Cook could be a major bust for the offensive line should he start. Hunt explained this on a segment for the publication where he and his colleagues broke down bust candidates in the AFC North.
"This was unfortunate because Dylan Cook last year was a great story. He stepped in, helped solidify the offensive line when they were going through a lot of injuries, Hunt said. "He played really well, but I think he takes a backseat... I see Dylan Cook as a great story, but he provides quality depth rather than a guy you count on as a starter."
Cook, a former quarterback in college, did a tremendous job in 2025 when he was basically thrown in there because of an emergency. He caught the attention of many and proved that he could have a future role with the team beyond just the few games he started. With such a small sample size from him, there could be some reluctance to make him a starter, but what other options does Pittsburgh have?
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Steelers offensive lineman Dylan Cook looks down at the playing surface as he walks around while the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Well, first-round pick Max Iheanachor could be a choice, but already, he seems raw as a prospect, let alone being capable of being a starting tackle for a NFL team. Unless he proves in camp and the preseason that he's worthy of being a starter, which is a long shot. The only other competition would be from former first-rounder Broderick Jones, who is slowly but surely making his way back from a nasty neck injury that ended his season in 2025, leading to Cook's emergence.
Steelers Starting Cook Comes With Least Amount Of Risk
The two previously mentioned who could be of competition to Cook's chances at a starting job come with a lot of risk, however, Cook has proven he can be relied upon when it matters. Iheanachor being a rookie and still working on fundamentals of what it takes to be a starter, could be too much for him too early. While Jones has a lot of risk when it comes to his injury and he has shown that he's lost a lot of weight and may not be in 100% football shape.
This leaves Cook as the sole option where there wouldn't be developmental risk involved. A free agent after 2026, Cook could be looking for a payday should he put it together for a full season in the Steel City.
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