One of the biggest points of emphasis for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason was to add depth to their offensive line. Thus far, General Manager Omar Khan has done just that, signing veteran free agents Isaac Seumalo, Nate Herbig, and Le'Raven Clark. Out of the three, only Seumalo is the lone projected starter, most likely at left guard. While the depth at offensive line has been adequately addressed, there seems to be a less clear answer of who exactly will start for the team in 2023. One player who is not a clear-cut starter is center, Mason Cole. Especially after top center prospect, John Michael Schmitz had an official top-30 visit with the Steelers on Friday, March 24th.
Karl Rosser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Center, Mason Cole
John Michael Schmitz is widely recognized as the top center in this year's draft class. A two-year starter at the University of Minnesota, Schmitz was an Associated Press All-American during the 2022 season. While not a tremendous athlete, he makes up for it with a non-stop motor and a great sense of feel for the game. He is a projected first-round pick by numerous draft experts. During a press conference, Schmitz talked more about how he takes pride in playing the center position.
Being the QB of the OLine is essential for a center. Minnesota OL John Michael Schmitz takes pride in that and believes the center sets the tone for the offensive line. pic.twitter.com/SUFXktF90f
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 4, 2023
Would John Michael Schmitz Serve As An Upgrade Over Mason Cole For The Steelers?
Center is far from the most pressing need for the Steelers at this point in the offseason. They have much more of a positional need at offensive tackle, defensive line, safety, and cornerback. However, the NFL Draft is nearly impossible to predict. There is a very real possibility that Schmitz is the best player available at pick #17 for the Steelers.
Additionally, if Omar Khan chooses to trade back from their original selection and gain more draft capital, the former All-American may also be available later in the first round. In a perfect scenario, the Steelers would be able to land Schmitz at #32, which is the first pick in the second round. The likelihood of him still being there is slim, but not impossible.
Credit: Kelly Hagenson
Minnesota Center, John Michael Schmitz
Perhaps the most reasonable scenario as to why the Steelers may opt to draft John Michael Schmitz and release Mason Cole comes down to the contract situation. This past offseason, Cole signed a three-year, $15.75 million deal, and carries nearly a $7 million cap hit for the 2023 season (Spotrac). A fairly hefty price for an offensive lineman who did not play exceedingly well in 2022. Projecting the rookie contract of Schmitz can perhaps be best measured by the rookie contract of 2022 first-round draft pick at center for the Baltimore Ravens, Tyler Linderbaum.
Similar to Schmitz, Linderbaum was universally viewed as the top center in this past year's draft class. His rookie deal comes in at four years, $13.238 million, an average annual salary of a little over $3.09 million (Spotrac). In all likelihood, the contract Schmitz signs would be very similar to that of Linderbaum's. If this is indeed the case, the Steelers could save money by opting to have Schmitz over Cole and gain a long-term answer at the middle of their offensive line.
While Cole was serviceable for the Steelers last year, he was far from great. He is undoubtedly a starting-caliber center in this league, but will never likely be a Pro Bowl type of player. On the other hand, Schmitz, if projected accurately, will be an All-Pro type of center for the next decade for whatever team is fortunate enough to select him. Could that team possibly be the Steelers? If so, they will need to be aggressive in getting him. During the Senior Bowl this past February, Schmitz was one of the most impressive players there, regardless of position.
John Michael Schmitz in space knocking down defenders pic.twitter.com/pFxuusgJ6X
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 2, 2023
Final Thoughts
The idea of adding a player such as John Michael Schmitz to an already talented offensive line is a dream for Steelers' fans. He is a highly intelligent player who possesses the ability to read defenses pre-snap, a unique trait for a young center. Depending on how the board falls for Omar Khan on the first night of the 2023 NFL Draft, he may have to go with the best player available, even if that particular player does not fill an obvious positional need.
John Michael Schmitz has every opportunity in the world to be one of the most impactful players in this year's draft class. If he falls to the Steelers at #17 or even #32, the team may have to seriously consider upgrading the center position. Goodbye Mason Cole, and hello to the next Maurkice Pouncey.
Steelers.com
Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey
How would you feel about the Steelers spending their first-round pick on a center? Do you truly view John Michael Schmitz as an upgrade over Mason Cole? Is there any scenario in which the team could have both players on the roster? Let us know in the comments!
#SteelerNation
