The Pittsburgh Steelers have historically had great offensive linemen. But that tradition seemed to have faded many years ago—only for it to return in full force in 2025.
Over the last few years, Pittsburgh has been one of the worst teams in football when it comes to protecting their quarterback and giving them time to throw. They have had makeshift lines made up of mid-round picks and over-the-hill veterans.
In 2022, Pittsburgh allowed the 17th-worst pressure rate in the NFL. In 2023, they allowed the 11th-worst. But last year, they hit an all-time low, giving up a pressure on over a quarter of the team’s dropbacks, which was fourth-most in football.
But not anymore. They have invested heavily in the offensive line in recent years, and it is paying dividends for them in 2025. And the timing couldn’t be better considering they’re now protecting a fragile 42-year-old veteran this season.
Aaron Rodgers has a 107 passer rating when kept clean this season compared to a 70 rating when under pressure. This stuff matters.
And according to The 33rd Team, the Steelers are allowing an NFL-low 26.5 pressure rate through Week 15 of this 2025 season. They have not led the league in that stat since 2018. They are also top 10 in fewest sacks allowed (25) and top 12 in sack percentage (5.6).
Now, some of that is because of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s penchant for quick throws. But that doesn’t account for all of it. Pittsburgh built this unit largely through smart draft picks.
Pittsburgh’s offensive line could be saved by a practice squad nobody
Starting right tackle Troy Fautanu was a 2024 first-round pick, center Zach Frazier was a 2024 second-round pick, and right guard Mason McCormick was a fourth-round pick that same year. Left guard Isaac Seumalo is a 10-year veteran with over 100 starts under his belt.
Fautanu, McCormick, and Frazier have all played over 99 percent of the snaps this season. Seumalo is over 85. That kind of continuity is huge for an offensive line unit.
The key, however, has been left tackle. 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones had been truly awful in 2023 and 2024, but he was turning things around in 2025.
However, an injury put him on IR recently, and with both of Jones’ backups, Andrus Peat and Calvin Anderson, also injured for Week 15, all the progress the group had already made was threatened. Thankfully, they found an instant solution in practice squad guy Dylan Cook.
Cook stepped in and gave up zero pressures on 32 pass-blocking snaps in the 28-15 win over Miami, earning an 89.9 pass-blocking grade from PFF. The Dolphins are nothing special, but that’s about as encouraging a start as you can get.
And with the rest of the offensive line already playing at an elite level, they should be able to help Cook if he stumbles down the stretch. Frazier is tied for first among centers with just eight pressures allowed this season, both guards are top 20 at their position, and Fautanu is top 15 among tackles.
If they continue playing this well and keeping Rodgers this clean, Pittsburgh could do a lot more than just qualify for the playoffs.