The Pittsburgh Steelers are nearly finished with the 2026 Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and are moving into mandatory minicamp. There is a lot to pay attention to in this timeframe as all the new faces are acclimating to one another. That goes for new coaches and plenty of new players. These early impressions are very important for the newcomers, especially at positions with a starting battle going on.
Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy during a 2026 offseason practice.
A lot of the attention has been at the quarterback competition. While Aaron Rodgers is the projected starter, there is a big fight behind him for the backup job. That is between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard as they fight for what will likely be the last quarterback spot on the roster.
With the selection of Drew Allar in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers need to make a decision for the third spot as they cannot roster all four. While that battle is one of the top stories in the early part of summer, there's another interesting position showdown that has three possible starters.
That group is at right guard and Steelers insider Mark Kaboly believes that it will be the most interesting competition behind the quarterback room. Competing at that position, Pittsburgh has Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, and Gennings Dunker.
"I am going to keep my eye on the right guard spot," Kaboly wrote on X. "Spencer Anderson has the inside track, but Brock Hoffman and Gennings Dunker will provide some stiff competition. Other than that, maybe right tackle with Dylan Cook and rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor."
The organization is very familiar with Anderson as he has played a limited, yet productive role in the offense within the last two seasons. Newly-hired Head Coach Mike McCarthy hasn't had Anderson before, yet he has spent three seasons with Hoffman, giving him a potential edge. Then Dunker, the Iowa standout, joined the mix following the draft, and quickly became a fan favorite.
As Kaboly wrote in his mailbag, it will be very significant to see what happens at right guard. The result of this competition will make a dramatic effect on the season. The Steelers must limit the pass rush to the best of their abilities to protect Rodgers. He is now 42-years-old and cannot take hits like he used to.
There also isn't a lot of speed there to avoid defenders, so the offensive line needs to give him as much time as possible. That's the case for every football team in America, but the situation in Pittsburgh makes it more important.
To add on to the importance of this position battle, there are already plenty of changes coming to the offensive line. Troy Fautanu is moving to left tackle and Mason McCormick shifted to left guard (for the time being). This unit is undergoing many big changes, so Pittsburgh needs to get this decision at right guard correct.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson (74) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Anderson has the most chemistry with the returning lineman on the Steelers so that will play a major role in the competition. All of these position changes will look very different for these players when they line up together for full-team reps, so that familiarity with each other should prove to be something that is important.
Hoffman is definitely worthy of starting too, as he was an anchor with the Cowboys for a few seasons. While he didn't start very often, he still served as a key depth piece for Dallas, playing in critical situations when starters got hurt. He has the most NFL experience out of the three battling for right guard. The key with him will be getting used to playing with a bunch of new faces.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' offensive lineman Gennings Dunker stands on the field at one of the team's facilities and speaks to the media after a 2026 offseason workout in Pittsburgh, PA.
Dunker will be learning how to play with new faces too, but he is adjusting to professional football, not just a new group to work around. At Iowa, he primarily took snaps at right tackle, yet collected experience at both guard positions. This isn't entirely new territory to him, but he is most familiar with tackle as of late. The rookie has a lot to learn, yet he has turned heads already and is emerging as a potential starter.
Steelers Will Be Closely Watching Right Guard Battle
If the Steelers choose the right answer at right guard, they could stabilize an offensive line undergoing multiple changes. If they miss, Rodgers and the offense could spend much of 2026 dealing with the consequences. It will be crucial to protect a 42-year-old that can't evade pressure like he used to. It's also going to be pivotal to successfully run the football.
#SteelerNation