The Pittsburgh Steelers are not afraid to make a rookie wait until they feel like he is ready to contribute to put them into the starting lineup. Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu got playing time in his rookie season, but didn't start a single game. In the 2023 NFL Draft, the team came away with offensive tackle Broderick Jones and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Jones got a start in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens, but wasn't a fixture in the starting lineup until Week 9. Porter saw action in some of the team's early games, but wasn't a consistent contributor on defense until Week 7 and was a starter from Week 8 onwards.
Tyler Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones readies himself for the rush during a Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 season.
Ray Fittipaldo, Steelers insider for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, joined Donny Football on 93.7 The Fan to chat about the state of the team as they continue to prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft. He thinks that if the team wanted to let a rookie center adjust to life in the pros before throwing him into the fire, Nate Herbig could act as a stopgap.
"I don’t think that Herbig would necessarily have to play a full year, but I think he’s a guy who could fill in for half a year, four games, six games, eight games," he said. "Whatever they would need him to do before that rookie center was ready."
Herbig only played 156 snaps for the team on offense in the 2023 season. According to Pro Football Focus, 125 were at right guard, and 31 of them at left guard. He does have some experience in the NFL at center, however. He played 47 snaps at the position for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2021 season. He spent three seasons with the Eagles, and they have had a pretty good center in Jason Kelce, who hopefully passed on some tips if Herbig is called to be Pittsburgh's starting center in 2024.
Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY
Steelers' Nate Herbig at a training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Perhaps, after a full offseason of training at the center position, Herbig may be a good short-term solution for the team. However, the team has needed a long-term option since Maurkice Pouncey's retirement, as they have not found a consistent go-to option. The experiment of trying Kendrick Green at center failed so miserably that the team signed Mason Cole in free agency in 2022. Cole had a solid season in 2022, but in 2023, he was plagued by issues snapping the ball, which led to his release from the team.
Pittsburgh is likely to draft a center in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, as they missed out on acquiring high-quality centers during free agency. However, the team also has other positions, including tackle, that require attention. The question remains: which position will the front office prioritize in the upcoming draft?
Steelers Have A Dilemma In Upgrading The Offensive Line
The offensive line of the Steelers is gradually improving, but could use some further adjustments. The team acquired starting-quality guards in the free agent market, with Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels. Jones' strong second half of the 2023 season is promising for his future as a cornerstone tackle. The optimal scenario would be for the team to obtain another tackle from the 2024 draft to establish a solid foundation and a center to reinforce the lineup.
Associated Press via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer (left) and left tackle Broderick Jones (right) work together during 2023 offseason activities.
Fittipaldo suggested that because of the impressive quality of the tackle class in the upcoming 2024 draft, the team should capitalize on the opportunity and secure one of the best players. However, selecting a tackle with the 20th pick could be risky.
It would put pressure on the team to find a center in the second or third round that they believe could be the future at the position. General Manager Omar Khan hasn't been afraid to get players he believes in. Maybe he will find a center he likes and make the necessary moves to get him.
Do you think starting Herbig at center makes sense? How would you approach upgrading the offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft? Comment below!
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