Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not be done adding talent quite yet following another very active offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have undergone a lot of change on both sides of the ball this offseason, but one of their former players thinks they’ve still got one more move up their sleeve before the start of the season.
Two-time Super Bowl champion guard Trai Essex believes the Steelers are going to sign an offensive tackle within the next few weeks.
“As it stands right now, I can’t imagine the Steelers going into the season with the current tackle situation being what it is,” Essex posted on X. “2 guys with 1 start between them at their current position being the bookends for a 41 yr old QB?! Obviously gotta see what they can do in these preseason games, but I’m thinking a vet is probably getting signed before the end of camp.”
Broderick Jones, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has played the majority of his snaps at right tackle over the past two years. However, his natural position is on the left side.
A switch back to left tackle has many feeling very optimistic for Jones’ 2025 campaign, but training camp has been a mixed bag for him. He has looked solid in run-heavy padded practices but has had a tough go of things in pass protection, which is concerning with a far-less mobile, 41-year-old quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.
Then there’s second-year right tackle Troy Fautanu. The Steelers’ first-round pick in 2024 missed the entirety of his rookie year with a knee injury.
Fautanu claims to be fully healthy, but he is still an unproven talent with very little exposure at the next level. So preseason will be very telling for both players.
If one or both struggle during the next couple of weeks, Pittsburgh could very well look to add another offensive tackle. The options aren’t plentiful on the open market, but keeping Rodgers upright and healthy is priority No. 1.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Super Bowl Champ Claims Steelers Will Make One More Addition
