Under contract (2022 cap hit): Zach Banner ($6.625m), Joe Haeg ($3.1m), Dan Moore Jr ($999k), Chaz Green ($895k)
This could be the opening day roster. There are too many other holes on the depth chart and tackle isn’t even the biggest need on the offensive line.
I feel good about penciling in Dan Moore Jr at the LT spot. The rookie fourth-round pick held down the blind side all year in a HOF QB’s final rodeo; that’s all you need to know about the team’s confidence in him.
Banner was anointed the RT out of last preseason, but he tore his ACL like five snaps into the 2020 regular season. His paycheck suggests he’ll either be starting at RT for the Steelers in 2022, or a cap casualty.
UFA: Chukwuma Okorafor
Okorafor was slated as the starting LT coming out of camp, but Zach Banner never got healthy enough to command the RT job. Dan Moore slotted in on Ben’s blind side and Chuks spent another year on the right side.
The extra year of growth did Okorafor good. He went from a solid swing-tackle (football’s equivalent of the Sixth Man of the Year) to a legitimate starter, and Pittsburgh’s best pass blocker. It should be noted that he started at RT all year, even after Banner was healthy enough to play in a tackle-eligible role.
As an unrestricted free agent this Spring, the open market will dictate the price tag for Okorafor. The market is always strong for OT’s because it’s hard to find good ones, and you need at least two to make a run.
The way I see it the team can go one of two ways:
- Cut Banner and re-sign Okorafor for as much or more as you’d pay Banner
- Let Okorafor walk and roll with Banner as the “cheaper option”
CamBlackburnWrites 