Steelers' 2024 Draft Success Brings A Trio Of 'A** Kickers' To Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers knew that they wanted to add to their offensive line during the 2024 NFL Draft, and in the first four rounds, they have certainly shown their commitment to that. The Steelers took Troy Fautanu with their first-round pick; then, in the second, they added Zach Frazier. When the fourth round came around, the Steelers kept true to their strategy and took Mason McCormick, an offensive guard, out of South Dakota State.

With new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, the Steelers are eager to get back to their roots and define themselves by running the football. During Pittsburgh's press conference following their selection of McCormick, offensive line coach Pat Meyer spoke about what led to the team drafting the trio. During the presser, Meyer was asked whether the term "a** kicker" was an appropriate way to define the three offensive linemen the Steelers took in the first four rounds.

"I would say yes. I mean, that's that common -- like I said, the three things that these guys have is -- these guys are tenacious, they play the game the right way, and they're -- the love of the game; all three of them truly, truly have that love of the game and passion for the game, and they want to get going right away, and that's obviously exciting for me as their position coach to work with them."

McCormick doesn't hail from one of the larger schools like Alabama or Michigan, but the offensive guard has pride in where he came from, and that added chip always helps when you get to the professional level. The Steelers are certainly getting experience from McCormick, as he played in 70 collegiate games, starting every single game at guard during the 2023 season with South Dakota State. For a franchise that is eager to see a cohesive, healthy offensive unit moving forward, adding McCormick certainly eases the pressure for the Steelers down the line.

The two current starting offensive guards for the Steelers, James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo, have established themselves in Pittsburgh, and McCormick isn't expected to unseat either veteran during the 2024 campaign. 

Unlike the selections of Fautana and Frazier, McCormick will be someone who is expected to grow into his own and eventually become that long-time starter for the Steelers, rather than playing immediately. With an offensive identity that centers around the running game, the more options the Steelers have on the offensive line, the better.

McCormick, at 6'4" and 309 pounds, the offensive guard isn't the biggest but he makes up for it with his tenacity. Meyer mentioned during the press conference how important it was for Steelers' linemen to finish their blocks and the mean streak in McCormick will help with that. Mike Tomlin loves to create adversity and competition during Pittsburgh training camps, and it seems like they are building a unit that will be ready to compete whenever called upon. However the offensive line ends up working out, Meyer should have confidence that they have already taken several important steps forward.

Steelers Setting Their Running Backs Up For Success

While Meyer is excited to see what the new trio of offensive linemen can add to Pittsburgh's rushing attack, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren should be equally eager to hit the field once team activities begin. During a frustrating 2023 campaign, Harris and Warren were relied upon often to shoulder the weight of a struggling offensive approach. Between Matt Canada, who was historically fired mid-season in 2023, and the failed Kenny Pickett experiment, the running game rescued the Steelers more than once.

With an offensive line that included Mason Cole and Dan Moore Jr., Harris and Warren combined for 1,819 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Considering the haphazard offensive strategy that was going on behind the scenes, it becomes all the more impressive that the running back duo was able to have that kind of output. Ahead of 2024, however, the outlook is much more promising - for both the backs and the offense as a whole. Smith is ready to do what Canada couldn't and get the Pittsburgh offense moving like a well-oiled machine.

Whether the offensive line additions will immediately boost the group has yet to be seen, but the immediate feeling is that an upgrade has already occurred. All that's left is to translate success in the draft to success on the football field.

Who will be the starting offensive line for the 2024 Steelers?