Steelers offensive line named one of the ‘best bargains’ in NFL
· Yahoo Sports
Much like most Steelers fans, NFL offensive line expert Brandon Thorn is cautiously optimistic about Pittsburgh’s starting five entering the upcoming season.
Visit saltysenoritaaz.org for more information.
In his “2026 OL Almanac” published Aug. 28 on his Trench Warfare Substack, Thorn ranked the Steelers’ starters as the 18th-most talented offensive line in the league, while also noting they are the cheapest.
In a section of the almanac listing some trends that stood out to him, Thorn wrote that the Bengals offensive line (ranked 14th in talent) and the Steelers “are the top two value units” in the NFL, praising how each “are built around a homegrown core with continuity” and affordable contracts.
In Pittsburgh’s case, every starter minus right tackle Dylan Cook (who is still only costing the team $1.075 million this year), is still on their rookie contract, while projected future starters Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker are also on rookie deals.
Expecting Iheanachor to start at some point in 2026, Thorn has the Steelers ranked as the league’s least-experienced starting line in terms of collective starts (also the third youngest), but also the fourth-most athletic when it comes to Relative Athletic Score.
Thorn wrote that Pittsburgh’s apparent offensive line bargain comes with an asterisk given the group’s unproven right side of Spencer Anderson and Iheanachor, and two of its best players, Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick, switching sides this year to the left. However, he noted that the Fautanu and McCormick’s previous college experience on the left side — and Zach Frazier being “a top-two center in the NFL” — should alleviate some of the concerns.
“Pittsburgh is playing a lottery ticket on the right side while banking on having a strong trio from left tackle to center,” Thorn concluded in his Steelers blurb. “If Iheanachor hits, this talent rank will clear 18th by season’s end.”
Currently, Thorn has the Steelers as the second-best offensive line in the AFC North, just behind the Bengals (14) but ahead of the Ravens (21) and Browns (31).
After a largely disappointing preseason and chatter about how the group could struggle to gel in a new offense, the Steelers’ line will have the opportunity to gain some positive momentum in the upcoming season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13.