Mason Cole – Syndication Server

Pittsburgh Steelers should kick tires on Mason Cole

Former Steelers C Mason Cole is about to get a call from his agent.

Mason Cole is about to get a call from his agent. The former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman could have to swap whatever trade he took up as a free agent for the Black and Gold.

Nate Herbig, Pittsburgh’s presumed starter at center, is out for an extended period, if not the season.

The injury is forcing the Steelers to start rookie Zach Frazier sooner than they wanted, as well as a depth void. Herbig was slated as the backup at both right and left guard and center once Frazier eventually got plugged in.

Cole’s release created an urgent need at center leading up to the 2024 NFL draft. West Virginia’s Frazier landed in their lap and is now expected to start the season with Herbig sidelined.

While Cole suffered a disastrous 2023 season, he’s familiar with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Steelers with him. The offense may have changed, but he hasn’t forgotten how to play center.

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2024 NFL draft: Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan skirt need of Steelers drafting center

The Steelers continue to maintain they don’t feel any pressure to draft a center early.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers released starting center Mason Cole at the start of free agency, it left a huge void along the offensive line.

Or did it?

For the third time since the team released Cole, they have been asked about the center position and for the third time the team has made it clear they feel like they have internal options at center and don’t seem to feel any pressure to draft a new starting center.

Let’s think about that for a second. What are those options? First and foremost it would be starting backup center Nate Herbig. Herbig has a total of 47 career snaps at center in the NFL.

Or perhaps it is about a position move. James Daniels was the starting center at Iowa for two seasons and in 2019 he went back and forth between center and guard while with the Chicago Bears. If the Steelers did move Daniels, this could open the door for Spencer Anderson to start at guard.

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15 Steelers free agents who remain unsigned

The Pittsburgh Steelers have put on a free agency show like they have never done before this offseason. Many critical voids have been filled, and things have been quiet with the NFL draft just over three weeks away. Pittsburgh has 15 free agents who …

Pittsburgh has 15 free agents who remain without a team — linebackers chief among them. Given how recent seasons have played out, it seems the Steelers can’t have enough quality depth there. Re-signing guys like Markus Golden and Kwon Alexander might be a smart move.

Here are the former Steelers players who could (or not) make their way back to the Steel City.

Bills release potential replacement for Mason Cole

The Bills released Mitch Morse, who would give the Steelers an upgrade at center.

This is the time when all NFL teams are making the great roster purge, releasing players in the name of fiscal relief, even players who are still very capable. The Pittsburgh Steelers have already done it this offseason, and now the Buffalo Bills have with the release of center Mitch Morse.

The Steelers cut their own starting center, Mason Cole, as both a cost-cutting move and because Cole struggled last season. Morse’s release puts a viable veteran center on the market with playoff experience who is at least the equal of Cole but realistically an improvement.

Some higher-profile centers are on the market if the Steelers want to invest heavily into the position, but Morse feels like one of those steady veterans Pittsburgh likes. He’s not going to wow anyone, but the contract will be fiscally responsible and Morse would provide leadership and experience to the offensive line. Adding Morse would certainly not preclude the Steelers from drafting a center next month.

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15 free agents the Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Baltimore Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away. With the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Baltimore will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is the biggest concern this offseason after getting the franchise tag, but the Ravens must also navigate 26 looming free agents.

GM Eric DeCosta has clarified that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

DeCosta and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Baltimore could sign that wouldn’t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

15 free agents the Eagles can sign that don’t count against 2025 compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Philadelphia Eagles can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away. With the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Philadelphia will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass rusher Haason Reddick is the biggest concern this offseason, but the Eagles must also navigate 20 looming free agents.

GM Howie Roseman has clarified that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

Roseman and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Philadelphia could sign that wouldn’t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

5 things C Mason Cole’s release could mean for the Steelers

The Steelers have plenty of options when it comes to replacing center Mason Cole.

In what was a somewhat surprise move, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday they were terminating the contract of last season’s starting center Mason Cole. Cole had one year left on the contract he signed with the Steelers as a free agent.

Here are five things the release of Cole could mean for the Steelers.

Two centers with Arthur Smith ties set to hit free agency

After the Steelers released Mason Cole, we had a peak on Spotrac to see any centers once played for Arthur Smith that could be available at the start of free agency.

As often happens when a top assistant comes over from another team, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has brought some coaches along (Matt Baker, Mateo Kambui).

Though talk of signing Ryan Tannehill has died down a bit, it’s still a possibility, as well as some other former players coming over from the Atlanta Falcons and the Tennesee Titans.

After the Pittsburgh Steelers released Mason Cole this afternoon, we had a peek on Spotrac to see if there are any centers who have played for him and could be available at the start of free agency.

Aaron Brewer, 26, played at the guard position during Smith’s tenure in Tennessee but moved to center in 2023. Brewer has allowed 18 sacks and 92 pressures in 1,500 pass-blocking snaps. He performs better as a run blocker, with 207 plays with a positive grade, per Pro Football Focus.

Brewer’s market value, according to Spotrac, is $5.2 million. Signing him after cutting Cole would be a wash.

Matt Hennessy took 1,169 snaps at center before moving to guard in 2022. Hennessy allowed six sacks and 50 pressures in 849 pass-blocking snaps and had 106 plays with a positive run-block grade. Hennessy, 26, entered training camp last year as the starting left guard but, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, suffered a knee injury on the third day during a run play in an 11-on-11 drill and was placed on injured reserve.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin highly values positional flexibility, and both of these players fit the bill, but neither Brewer nor Hennessy really stands out as the answer to their years-long issues at center.

What it boils down to is the Steelers need not to replace Cole but Maurkice Pouncey. My vote is to stop going back to the free agent well and snag one early in the draft who can be that guy for a decade-plus. Smith preaches winning in the trenches, and a top rookie will go a long way to helping achieve that.

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Steelers release center Mason Cole

Bye, Mason Cole!

The Pittsburgh Steelers are taking steps to address weakness in their offensive line with the release of center Mason Cole.

The veteran lineman had one year remaining on his contract and saves the team just shy of $5 million in cap space.

Per Pro Football Focus, Cole’s overall offensive grade in 2023 was 55 (for comparison, PFF considers an average grade as 70-79.9), which breaks down as 63.8 in run blocking and 32.8 in pass blocking. He allowed 42 QB pressures (hits, hurries, sacks) and was beaten by defenders 27 times, including four in the wild card loss to the Buffalo Bills.

It’s safe to say Cole can be added to the worst free agent signings in Steelers’ history.

The move surely points to the Steelers taking a center within the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL draft.

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Senior Bowl – 10 Steelers NFL draft prospects to watch on the National roster

Here are some prospects who should be on the Steelers NFL draft radar.

This week much of the NFL will be in Mobile checking out many of the top prospects for the 2024 NFL draft at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. The Pittsburgh Steelers are fortunate to have assistant offensive line coach Isaac Williams working on the American roster where he will get a behind-the-scenes look at those prospects.

However, the National roster has a significant number of who should be on the Steelers draft radar. Here are 10 to keep an eye on this week.