The Pittsburgh Steelers released starting center Mason Cole far earlier than expected. Even if the veteran was considered a cap casualty this offseason, releasing him before the NFL Combine means the team has almost no idea how the free agency market or the NFL Draft will unfold. They probably have a plan, though. Cole’s release removes $4.75 million from the Steelers’ salary cap, leaving them with approximately $12.25 million in available monies to re-sign and bring in fresh talent via free agency. A veteran like Brian Allen could be on their radar, but the move is likely to push two incoming rookies up their selection board.
So far this offseason, the Steelers have already visited with Oregon star Jackson Powers-Johnson twice and “absolutely love” West Virginia prospect Zach Frazier. They are the top two center prospects in the NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh is headed to the NFL Combine this week, where they’ll get an even deeper dive into the center prospects. It was already believed they’d be glued to the linemen during the week, but that attention is seemingly only going to get greater, and you should expect the team to meet with both Powers-Johnson and Frazier.
Powers-Johnson is a Rimington Trophy winner and a unanimous All-American. Frazier is a first-team All-Big 12 and has already been named a “day one starter” by NFL Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah.
Right tackle, cornerback, safety, wide receiver, inside linebacker and defensive line are all on the Steelers’ list of needs this NFL Draft. Luckily for them, they have options in free agency to fill some of these and could head to the NFL Draft with minimal urgent fillings.
The Steelers haven’t had a dominant center in a few years, and like the quarterback position, they’re hoping to return to a time when they didn’t have to worry about the leader of their offensive line. A return to the Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey era.
This NFL Draft, there are two names that can alleviate that tension, and it appears that the Steelers are all in on acquiring one of them.
