The Pittsburgh Steelers struggled to find a long-term answer at center in the years after Maurkice Pouncey's retirement, but that all changed in 2024.
In the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, the Steelers selected center Zach Frazier out of West Virginia. Frazier was thrust into a starting role immediately and did not disappoint.
Over 15 games, Frazier surrendered just one sack and 12 pressures while notching Pro Football Focus grades of 66.6 in pass-blocking, 79.7 in run-blocking and 76.8 overall, which ranked 21st, sixth and sixth among centers, respectively.
As great as he was, there is certainly still room for improvement for Frazier, and one analyst sees the sophomore starter taking that next step in 2025.
The Sporting News' Dan Treacy put together an "All-Breakout Team" for the 2025 campaign and Frazier occupied one of the offensive line spots on it.
The Steelers are set to have one of their youngest offensive lines in franchise history, as four of the five starters are still on their rookie contracts, but Zach Frazier is someone who should play above his experience level. The 2024 second-round pick was thrust into a key role as Pittsburgh's starting center as a rookie and did well for himself, starting 15 games and emerging as a terrific run-blocker. The Steelers know how to develop interior offensive linemen, and Frazier has the tools to become one of the NFL's better centers with another season under his belt.
Frazier has already proven himself to be an elite run-blocker, and while his PFF pass-blocking grade doesn't say it, he's on the cusp of being one of the best in the NFL in that area, also, after giving up less than one pressure per game in 2024.
If Frazier does take that next step in 2025, he's going to cement himself as one of the very best centers in the NFL in just his second season.
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