Pittsburgh, PA – Aprial 30, 2025. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense showed flashes of potential in 2024, but their offensive line remained a glaring weakness, hindering the team’s aspirations. The unit struggled, ranking 28th in run-block win rate (69%) and 29th in pass-block win rate (52%), per ESPN analytics.
To address the issue, Pittsburgh signed veteran center Ryan McCollum to a one-year, $1.2 million deal and let guards James Daniels and Nate Herbig depart in free agency. The moves aimed to stabilize a line that failed to protect quarterbacks and open lanes for runners.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers continued their focus on the trenches, selecting Michigan guard Giovanni El-Hadi in the fourth round (No. 123 overall) and Texas center Jake Majors in the sixth (No. 185 overall). These picks signaled a commitment to rebuilding the line with young talent.
Despite these additions, Pittsburgh may not be done bolstering the group, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport predicts they could target veteran guard Brandon Scherff. The 33rd Team’s Ian Valentino also named the Steelers as the ideal landing spot for the seasoned blocker.
Scherff, a 33-year-old Iowa product, brings a pedigree of excellence, with four Pro Bowl nods and a First-Team All-Pro honor from his seven years with Washington. His durability, starting all 51 games over three seasons with Jacksonville, offers reliability Pittsburgh craves.
In 2024, Scherff earned a 64.7 PFF grade, ranking 53rd among 136 guards, with a 74.5 pass-blocking grade (19th) but a weaker 57.3 run-blocking grade (97th). His experience could anchor the right guard spot, complementing left guard Isaac Seumalo and center Zach Frazier.
If Pittsburgh signs Scherff, he could compete with El-Hadi and Spencer Anderson for the starting role, while McCollum and Majors battle for center depth. This revamped line would better protect Mason Rudolph and support Kaleb Johnson’s run game, addressing 2024’s shortcomings.
With a $2 million cap, Pittsburgh’s pursuit of Scherff hinges on cap-clearing moves like cutting Cordarrelle Patterson. Landing the veteran guard could transform a shaky line, giving the Steelers a fighting chance to end their eight-year playoff win drought in 2025.
