Steelers Hint At Critical Offensive Line Changes Ahead Of Week 2

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made major moves along the offensive line in recent years. The organization has used plenty of draft capital in an attempt to build up a solid front. It has done a decent job, as the team now rosters a few cornerstone offensive linemen, along with some up-and-coming young prospects. As for the 2026 NFL season, the team may be making changes to the starting lineup sooner rather than later. 

Pittsburgh's offensive line had a roller coaster start to the 2026 regular season in their 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The offense never really got the rushing attack going, mostly due to the offensive line's inability to create lanes for running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. The pass protection was above average, although quarterback Aaron Rodgers had to roll out of the pocket multiple times. This is one of his strengths, so it did not negatively impact the team. 

Starting right tackle Dylan Cook gave up two early sacks, but the unit as a whole kept Rodgers upright for the majority of the game. Troy Fautanu, who the Steelers have a lot of faith in, started at left tackle and had a very solid game. He briefly exited the game in the fourth quarter, allowing for the organization's 2026 first-round pick, Max Iheanachor, to get his first NFL regular season action. The team's reported plan is to let Iheanachor develop before throwing him into the fire, as he is viewed as a very raw player. Overall, the offensive line showed promise compared to what Steelers fans have seen over the past few seasons.

According to Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat section from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the organization could be shifting its plan regarding the offensive line, and more specifically, its young tackles.

"Longer term, that is a different issue," Dulac explained. "Cook and Fautanu will be at the tackle spots this week, but changes are coming."

The changes in question deal with the starting tackle positions. It seems very likely that Fautanu will start whether it be at right tackle or left tackle, as he has shown potential to be the organization's next franchise lineman. Cook's starting spot is far from secure, as the Steelers do not have much invested in him, and the team's latest talent is right on his tail. Iheanachor had a very solid preseason for being such a raw talent, and it sounds like his time to shine could be coming very soon.

It has been a long time since we have seen a fully solidified offensive line in the Steel City. Pittsburgh has truly struggled in this department, as they have deployed many different units over the past few seasons. It is a long process with a lot of experimenting, but it seems like the team is finally on the right track to shoring up the trenches and having a really good unit.

Steelers Are Trying To Build For The Future

All signs point to the 2026 NFL season being the last for Rodgers, as he has announced that he is retiring. While Pittsburgh has Super Bowl aspirations this season, a rebuild is likely on the horizon. The defense is very talented, but not getting any younger. The majority of the team's offensive weapons are aging as well, with most of them being over the age of 27. It is only a matter of time before the Steelers cannot continue to find short-term options, especially at the quarterback position. While the team employs two promising young players at the position in Will Howard and Drew Allar, neither of them are guaranteed to be the organization's next franchise guy. 

The Steelers are certainly going to have to invest a lot of resources into a rebuild and Steelers fans could see some dark days ahead while the team tries to find its footing for the future. Pittsburgh has not had a top-five draft pick since 1970 when the team selected legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw. That could change in the next couple of years, as the team's future is extremely uncertain beyond 2026. 

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