Steelers May Soon Agree To A Surprise Summertime Extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially gone through all Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Throughout these practice sessions, new head coach Mike McCarthy was given the chance to see what his team is good at as well as well as what it needs to work on. The collective also has many new faces that will be rocking the Black and Gold in 2026, as the front office made several moves via free agency before the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, it appears that one player who has been with the franchise since it drafted him in the seventh round back in 2023 could be in line for some surprise cash.

Chris Adamski recently discussed how offensive lineman Spencer Anderson has the chance to enter the 2026 NFL season as a starter. The former University of Maryland product was taken 251st overall in that 2023 NFL Draft by the franchise. 

Across his three seasons with the Black and Gold, he has played in 42 games with 11 starts during that time. Now, with Isaac Seumalo departing via free agency and the health of Broderick Jones up in the air, Anderson appears to have an opportunity to make a name for himself and become a staple up front on offense while also trying to earn a payday with the organization.

"The stakes are high financially for [Spencer] Anderson, who is in his “contract year,” Adamski wrote. "Entering free agency as a starter would certainly lead to a bigger contract next spring. It is also well within the realm of possibility that the Steelers and Anderson agree to an extension this summer."

The offensive line is a relatively young group; however, it meshed pretty well together despite a few rotating pieces in 2025. The unit will need more of that camaraderie in 2026, especially with Aaron Rodgers returning to the team for one more year at quarterback, as he reunites with McCarthy. 

The offensive production in 2025, however, struggled often as the group struggled to score especially in some big games. The front office did a great job to stack McCarthy with offensive weapons for 2026 around wide receiver DK Metcalf, and that should definitely help to turn around that collective that struggled.

Steelers' Offensive Line Has A Big Role Despite Addition Of Playmakers

While the organization added wide receivers Germie Bernard and Michael Pittman Jr. to help complement Metcalf and give the team a more balanced attack on offense, the big men up front will be a big variable in a turnaround. 

Anderson playing for a contract could play well into his favor as well as the overall success of the team, as he appears to be trending toward a starting role in 2026. While McCarthy is an offensive-minded coach, the line must keep Rodgers upright with the franchise still searching for answers at quarterback for 2027 and beyond.

This is where Anderson can truly make a huge impact on being a key part of that turnaround. He stands at 6'5" and weighs a little over 300 pounds, so the physical traits are definitely there when it comes to an offensive lineman. He is also coming off of a career-high seven starts during the 2025 season so he definitely saw more experience in terms of playing time at the position last year. 

He is not going to earn himself a starting job solely on his physical traits or the 2025 season experience. However, that experience certainly gives him a leg up on others and it helps that newly acquired offensive lineman Brock Hoffman has experience at guard as well as center in his NFL playing time. 

While the team still sits about three months out from the start of the 2026 season before the offensive line is set, Anderson may have a golden opportunity to blossom into a starting NFL offensive lineman and earn himself a second contract with the Steelers.

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