2020 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers top positional needs

Offensive Line

With Roethlisberger turning 38 this March, the Pittsburgh Steelers will need to prioritize protecting their aging quarterback. The 2019 season showed what life was like for the Steelers without Big Ben and it is unlikely that head coach Mike Tomlin wants to see a third straight season missing the playoffs.

If they hope to keep their quarterback upright this season, prioritizing the offensive line is going to be a big part of that. The Steelers have three free agents from the offensive line, according to Spotrac.

Several backups this offseason are likely to test free agency, leaving the Steelers short in pass protection. B.J. Finney is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and has mostly been used as a backup player. He filled in for a suspended Maurkice Pouncey in 2019, also filling in at various times during the season playing guard and tackle.

Matt Feiler is also set to hit free agency this year. Originally going undrafted, Feiler shined in 2019 playing a majority of snaps at right tackle. Like Finney, he is versatile and can play a variety of positions on the offensive line, having substituted at left guard in 2019.

According to Over The Cap, Feiler made just $645,000 last season and would likely want to test free agency in 2021. Over The Cap has Feiler valued at over $9 million a year on the open market.

Other notable starters on the offensive line are starting to show their age. Guard Ramon Foster will be entering his 12th season with the Steelers and it is unclear how much longer he intends to play. Tackle Alejandro Villanueva will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021, as will Foster.

Center Maurkice Pouncey is also starting to slow down. Drafted in 2010, Pouncey had his worst season in 2019. Despite valiantly defending back-up quarterback Mason Rudolph from a helmet attack this season, Pouncey was ranked one of the worst centers in the NFL last season. He is also set to make $22 million over the next two seasons, leaving the cap-strapped Steelers in a rough position.

Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers may be able to eke out one more season with the majority of this offensive line. But with age and cap issues catching up with the offensive line, this unit will look drastically different in the next two seasons. The Steelers need to bring in some offensive line help this offseason, either in free agency or the 2020 NFL Draft.

Free Agency: The key here for the Pittsburgh Steelers is to sign back-up players, who can be available to step in during the season if need be. When the established veterans on the offensive line inevitably leave in the next few seasons, the Steelers will need to have replacements ready to go.

Former New England Patriots backup guard Jermaine Eluemunor would make a lot of sense for the Steelers in free agency. At 27 years old, Eluemunor has was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and traded to the Patriots last year.

He has spent most of his career as a backup, on the field for only 321 snaps during his entire career in the NFL according to Pro Football Reference. Eluemunor should have a lot less wear and tear on his body because of this.

At 6-foot-4, 335 pounds, Eluemunor would make a nice protegé to Foster and be ready to step in when needed in 2020. If the Steelers think they can develop him into a serviceable guard, it might make sense from a cap perspective to take a chance on him during free agency.

2020 NFL Draft: If the Steelers are serious about building for the future, Fresno State‘s Netane Muti is the best interior offensive lineman they could draft.

At 6-foot-3, 308 pounds Muti makes his presence known on the offensive line. He has elite upper body strength and is a pleasure to watch on the offensive line. Muti has experience playing guard and left tackle in college too, something the Steelers will appreciate.

In the NFL there is a real shortage of elite offensive line talent and Muti is the type of player that rarely comes around. His highlight reel is a sight to see. A sight I recommend watching below.

If Muti is unavailable in the second round, there are other interior offensive linemen general manager Colbert could consider. Ohio State guard Jonah Jackson showed up well at the Senior Bowl last month and likely left a good impression on NFL scouts. While not a mauler like Muti, Jackson appears to have the fundamentals necessary to be an elite guard in the NFL. Having spent time at both center and right guard during his career should be appealing to the Pittsburgh Steelers front office.

Interior offensive line players don’t get the attention they deserve in the NFL. But their effect on an offensive line cannot be understated. The Steelers’ front office will need to discuss the aging position group sooner or later. If they want to get the most out of Roethlisberger’s twilight years in the NFL, they will need to prioritize the offensive line in the 2020 NFL Draft.