Steelers Use Free Agency to Beef Up Offensive Line
Although the Steelers may have missed out on Orlando Brown Jr, who joined the Bengals, Omar Khan found a way to add a couple of effective offensive guards in free agency. The offensive line has held Pittsburgh back for years, a brutal fall from the gorgeous lines Leveon Bell got to run behind.
With a chance to add some new faces to the room in April at the draft, Khan and Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl have already started shortening the list of needs. Weidl, who worked in the Eagles’ front office before becoming the Assistant General Manager for the Steelers, has decided to bring in some familiar faces he saw in Philadelphia.
Isaac Seumalo
Late Saturday night, it was announced that the former Eagle Isaac Seumalo would be heading across the state to play for the Steelers on a three-year deal. The 29-year-old has spent all seven NFL seasons in Philadelphia, even helping the Eagles won Super Bowl LII in 2018. A little bit of championship pedigree up front for Quarterback Kenny Pickett. Despite battling several injuries, Seumalo has played 81 games, starting 60.
The former third-round pick out of Oregon State was an alternate for the NFC last year in the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. Since the signing was announced, many on Twitter have said nothing but good things about it. It seems eagles fans thought highly of Seumalo, which is good news for Pittsburgh. Philadelphia has a tremendous offensive line, making them someone suitable to pick off of.
Nate Herbig
Another former Eagle, Big Nate Herbig, spent three years in Philadelphia and a year in New York as a Jet before signing in Pittsburgh. Andy Weidl strikes again. Herbig comes in at six foot four and 334 pounds. Sounds like a great bodyguard for Pickett. Herbig has played in 44 games in his four-year career, starting 28 of them. Known as a good run blocker, Running Back Najee Harris will surely be a fan of the signing.
Herbig and the Steelers are a match made in heaven. Why? His younger brother, Nick Herbig, is an edge rusher from Wisconsin, eligible to be drafted this year. The Steelers love them some brothers, just something to keep an eye on. As for Nate Herbig, he’s only 24 years old, and his best football is ahead of him. He inked a two-year deal in Pittsburgh, making eight million with four million guaranteed. That is not bad for an undrafted free agent.
More Similar Than They Even Know
A funny side note, the two offensive linemen share many similarities. Both were born in Hawaii, Seumalo from Honolulu and Herbig from Lihue. Both spent time with the Eagles and played football at a PAC-12 school, with Seumalo attending Oregon State and Herbig attending Stanford.
Looking Ahead To 2023
At the end of the day, these two will probably fight it out in the dog days of summer in Latrobe at Training Camp for the starting left guard spot. James Daniels did well enough to lock up that right guard position last year in his first season as a Steeler. Mason Cole also looks to build on a solid first season as a Steeler, and Chuks Okorafor did his thing as usual.
Unless the draft in April changes things, the starting unit moving forward should look something like Dan Moore, Seumalo/Herbig, Mason Cole at center with Daniels and Chuks Okorafor on the right. A unit with a few new faces with a chance to build on what they did to end last year when the run game came alive and opened things up for Pickett. Khan has made sure to upgrade up front.