Steelers Could Shock Fans With An Unexpected Left Guard For The 2026 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a better idea of what the roster might look like in 2026 now that the NFL Draft and rookie minicamp are over. Pittsburgh welcomed its new draft class, and things are starting to take shape as the rookies took the field for the first time. It is hard to tell how much rookies will have an impact early on in 2026 since the Steelers are being run by a new coaching staff, but the expectation is that a few rookies will be very important to the team. This is especially true on the offensive line with players like Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker.

Pittsburgh is expected to have an opening on the offensive line at left guard, while the two tackle spots are expected to be filled by Troy Fautanu and some combination of Iheanachor and Dylan Cook. At left guard, the competition for the starting job should come down to two veterans in Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman, while Dunker is also a name to watch. Anderson and Hoffman might have a leg up as they each have experience in the NFL, and Hoffman even got to play under new head coach Mike McCarthy while the two were with the Dallas Cowboys.

Throughout rookie minicamp, another name may have entered the fold as one to watch at left guard, and that is Greg Crippen. Crippen mostly played center in college at Michigan, but he does have a background at guard. Beat writer Ray Fittipaldo spoke about seeing him on the practice field during rookie minicamp in a recent chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"They signed a center and that's it. It was interesting," Fittipaldo said. "I saw the coaches watching him closely in one drill, and they all looked impressed. Sure enough, they signed him a day or two later."

Crippen was at minicamp as a center, but he does have a background as a guard from his high school days and the start of his career at Michigan. There is some competition for the backup center job behind Zach Frazier with both Hoffman and Ryan McCollum, and Crippen should be included in that mix as well. He should also be considered at left guard, especially if no other candidates command the job immediately.

Pittsburgh was so impressed with Crippen that he was signed after rookie minicamp, even with the franchise already having three capable centers on the roster. Depth on the offensive line is extremely important, and the Steelers do value positional versatility. It would not be a surprise to see Crippen's name pop up in conversations surrounding the left guard spot, even if it is not something that happens until later on in the season.

In all likelihood Crippen will begin the season on the practice squad. Pittsburgh typically keeps nine offensive linemen, and it might be hard for Crippen to crack that list. Fautanu, Iheanachor, Cook, Frazier, Dunker, and Mason McCormick are all absolute locks to make the final roster. Anderson and Hoffman probably are as well, with the ninth spot potentially coming down to Crippen or McCollum. McCollum's experience could be the deciding factor.

Steelers Could Be Set On The Offensive Line For Years To Come

Pittsburgh has done a great job focusing on the offensive line over the last several years. Fautanu, McCormick, and Frazier all seem to be above-average starters in the NFL, and they are all entering just their third season. Assuming Iheanachor can figure things out at the NFL level and be a decent starting right tackle, and the eventual starting left guard is either Dunker or Crippen, Pittsburgh could be set in the trenches for the foreseeable future.

The expectations are low for Crippen, but the coaching staff clearly saw something in the undrafted offensive lineman.

What do you think about the possibility of Crippen getting a look at left guard? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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