Steelers Could Make A Shocking Cut Because One Lineman Can Do Two Jobs

The Pittsburgh Steelers and new offensive line coach James Campen have a perfectly reasonable backup center sitting directly behind Zach Frazier, which apparently may not be enough to keep him employed. As Pittsburgh squeezes its roster toward 53 players, insider Mike DeFabo believes one of the more surprising casualties could come from the offensive line, where versatility is threatening to make a traditional backup expendable.

Ryan McCollum currently occupies the No. 2 center spot on Pittsburgh's depth chart. There is nothing ceremonial about the designation. He has appeared in 47 NFL contests, spent the entire 2025 season on the Steelers' 53-man roster and previously started twice when Frazier was unavailable in 2024. Pittsburgh liked him enough to bring him back on another one-year contract in March.

Under normal circumstances, that résumé sounds like inexpensive insurance behind one of the most important blockers on the roster. DeFabo does not think these are normal circumstances.

During a recent discussion, DeFabo projected Pittsburgh could move on from McCollum because another interior lineman can absorb his job without using an additional roster spot.

“I’m cutting Ryan McCollum… This is a guy that I think is likely going to be cut at this point, which is crazy to say about the backup center. And so then you basically have Brock Hoffman filling in as the backup center and guard,” DeFabo said.

Brock Hoffman is what makes an otherwise strange decision possible. Pittsburgh signed him to a one-year deal in March after four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, where he appeared in 54 games with 16 starts. More importantly for August roster mathematics, Hoffman has legitimate NFL experience at center and both guard spots.

The current depth chart lists Hoffman second at right guard behind Spencer Anderson, while McCollum backs up Frazier. On paper, those are two separate jobs. In practice, Hoffman potentially allows Pittsburgh to carry one player capable of handling both assignments and spend the freed roster spot somewhere else.

That is the unromantic side of building a 53-man roster. Coaches might prefer having a dedicated backup at every position, an emergency option behind him and perhaps another emergency option wearing bubble wrap in a nearby closet. The NFL instead gives them 53 spaces and asks them to start compromising.

Hoffman's position flexibility has been part of his appeal since he arrived. A previous look at Pittsburgh's interior-line flexibility highlighted his ability to move between center and guard, including extensive work at both spots during his time in Dallas. That skill becomes far more valuable at the end of August than it looked on a March transaction wire.

McCollum's situation is difficult precisely because he has not done anything obvious to lose his place. He has experience in Pittsburgh's offense, has already stepped in for Frazier successfully and offers a clean answer if the starting center misses time. Cutting him would not necessarily be an indictment of how he played. It could simply mean another blocker can cover more boxes on the emergency checklist.

Pittsburgh has several reasons to covet that extra space. The organization is still sorting through an unusual four-quarterback decision, while competitive battles at receiver, defensive back and linebacker could leave useful players exposed when final cuts arrive. A ninth offensive lineman who can perform multiple jobs has an easier argument than a 10th blocker whose role overlaps with somebody already staying.

The front five itself also contains several movable pieces. Hoffman has pushed Anderson at right guard, while rookie Gennings Dunker gives Pittsburgh another young interior option. If Hoffman wins or remains heavily involved at guard, he can still shift to center in an emergency while Anderson or Dunker slides into the vacancy beside him.

That contingency is less comfortable than simply inserting McCollum and leaving four other positions untouched. It is also the type of compromise teams routinely make because backup flexibility is often more valuable than backup purity.

There would be risk. Frazier has already missed NFL action, and center carries communication responsibilities that cannot always be replicated by moving a guard over on Tuesday afternoon and hoping everyone remembers the cadence. McCollum provides familiarity and a direct replacement without forcing a second position to change simultaneously.

DeFabo simply believes the numbers may outweigh that security.

Steelers May Let Versatility Make A Painful Decision For Them

McCollum being listed as the backup center makes his possible release look counterintuitive, but depth charts do not account particularly well for multi-position insurance. Hoffman can be a backup (or starting) right guard, and effectively a backup center.

That gives Mike McCarthy more freedom at the bottom of his roster. Hoffman previously played under McCarthy in Dallas, so the head coach already understands what the veteran can handle before asking him to become Pittsburgh's interior Swiss Army knife.

McCollum still has one preseason opportunity to strengthen his argument, and DeFabo's prediction should not be confused with a report that Pittsburgh has decided to release him. The Steelers could value having a true center behind Frazier enough to keep both players, particularly if another position produces an easier cut. The difficult part is that McCollum might be competing against Hoffman's job description more than Hoffman's performance.

Pittsburgh knows McCollum can back up one important position. Hoffman might survive because he can back up three. When the roster reaches its final few spots, doing two jobs can be the easiest way to take one away from somebody else.

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