Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers have a potential All-Pro center in Zach Frazier and two young rising offensive lineman in guard Mason McCormick and tackle Troy Fautanu. McCormick and Fautanu are both expected to move to the left side this season, so the right side still needs to be ironed out. Guard Spencer Anderson and tackle Dylan Cook are the favorites to land starting roles on the right side. Both played well in 2025. First-round pick tackle Max Iheanachor and veteran guard Brock Hoffman are also in the mix to be starters.
The Steelers tweaked their alignment on the offensive line this spring, moving Fautanu and McCormick to the left side.
McCormick has experience of playing on the left side, as he was a left guard in college at South Dakota State.
“At first when we were talking about it, Mason has probably close to 2,800, 3,000 reps at left guard in college, so his transition is pretty easy,” offensive line coach James Campen said. “And he’s been playing in consecutive games, where Troy had the hiccup there when he was injured.”
From a communication standpoint, keeping McCormick and Fautanu on the same side is vital.
“It was a thought, like, ‘Oh, OK, that’s fine, too,’” Campen said of keeping McCormick and Fautanu beside one another. “Because communication and those things are very important, but I can tell you, when you go to the left side or right side, the communication … now they’re working inside out, because now (Fautanu’s) on his left. So it is different.”
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy really values position flexibility.
Broderick Jones is dealing with a neck injury and his status for the 2026 season is unclear. Isaac Seumalo also left for Arizona in free agency.
“I really just wanted to get that left side set,” McCarthy said at OTAs. “Those guys were really excited about it.”
6-foot-4, 309 pounds, 24 years old, 1st Season
Acquired: The Steelers drafted Mason McCormick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the 119th overall pick of the draft and was one of two Jackrabbits to be drafted in 2024.
Last Year: McCormick started all 17 games in the 2025 season, playing 1,031 offensive snaps. He earned a 71.0 overall Pro Football focus grade (21st among guards), a 71.5 pass-blocking grade, and a 66.7 run-blocking grade while allowing just four sacks and one penalty all year.
Career: McCormick has started 31 of 34 games in his first two seasons in the NFL. He was inserted into the Steelers’ starting lineup in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts after James Daniels went down with a season-ending Achilles injury in the first quarter.
****MASON MCCORMICK COLLEGE CAREER
Mason McCormick spent six seasons at South Dakota State before entering the 2024 NFL Draft. He played in 70 games for the Jackrabbits. As a true freshman, McCormick played in three games before redshirting. It was the first year that players...
