The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 NFL draft has brought significant changes to their offensive line. With the arrival of Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick, the team’s depth chart has been reshuffled, putting some players on the brink of being cut before Week 1.
New faces, new challenges
Fautanu is expected to start at the left tackle spot, currently occupied by Dan Moore Jr., while Frazier should be the new starting center. McCormick will be in competition for one of the guard spots, and if he wins the job, the Steelers could be in the position to cut two offensive linemen.
The wide receiver depth chart also needs to be trimmed down before Week 1, following Roman Wilson’s arrival. An offseason signing could be the roster casualty in that positional battle.
Dan Moore Jr.
Moore lost his starting spot at left tackle once the Steelers selected Fautanu with the 20th overall pick. Fautanu and Broderick Jones will be the Steelers’ offensive tackle tandem for years to come, and that leaves Moore in a backup role at best. Moore could stick around as the backup to both young offensive linemen, but he could also face a roster cut.
A backup role or a roster cut?
The Steelers should keep more interior-based backups to help with McCormick and Frazier’s transition process to NFL starters. That could keep Isaac Seumalo safe, so that the Steelers have a player to start above McCormick or to back him up.
Nate Herbig
Herbig will be in direct competition with Seumalo to stay on the roster. Frazier, the second-round pick out of West Virginia, will likely slot into the starting center role. There is no need for the Steelers to keep two interior offensive line backups, even if Seumalo does not have much experience at center. Seumalo could cover the backup tackle spot as well, which makes him a slightly better candidate to keep than Herbig.
A tough competition
If anything, at least one of Moore, Herbig, and Seumalo is on the way out before Week 1. The Steelers have to figure out if there’s any trade value for those players before cutting them.
Quez Watkins
Watkins’ time as a Steelers player may not last until Week 1. Watkins was signed for wide receiver depth in free agency, but there does not appear to be a role for him right now. Wilson will get every opportunity to thrive behind George Pickens, while Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III should be locks to make the roster. That leaves Watkins fighting for the No. 5 wide receiver spot at best.
A tough road ahead
The Steelers may not want to keep five wide outs on the active roster since they have Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Hayward at tight end. The preseason games will be vital for Watkins to prove he belongs on the Steelers roster. There is not a trade market for a backup wide out who does not have great career numbers, so Watkins would only be an option to get cut.
