In case you missed it, the Pittsburgh Steelers made one of the best moves of the offseason late Saturday. Assistant general manager Andy Weidl helped pick up another one of his former players from the Philadelphia Eagles, landing offensive guard Isaac Seumalo. The deal was later officially reported as three years, $24 million and it's well worth the money for the black and gold.
With the signings of Seumalo and Nate Herbig, it seems like the interior part of the offensive line is now set. After Mason Cole and James Daniels were two of the bright spots at center and right guard in 2022, it's unlikely they move positions. That would make Herbig as the utility guy, the ultimate backup for this team. Suddenly, the interior part of the line is a cluster.
Two Steelers' players now have a murky outlook regarding their futures in Pittsburgh. To start, it would be a surprise at this point if Kendrick Green is on the roster in 2023. After starting 15 games in his rookie year in 2021, Green didn’t appear in a game in his second season. The team moved him to left guard in training camp, where Kevin Dotson eventually beat him out for the starting job. The front office seems ready to end the experiment with Green after just two seasons.
Dotson had his ups and downs in 2022, as PFF ranked him 30th amongst 77 qualifying guards. Seumalo will be an immediate upgrade, as he ranked 10th with a 72.7 overall grade. While durability was previously a concern for Dotson, he was able to start all 17 games for the black and gold in 2022. Instead, his lack of discipline became a reoccurring issue throughout the season.
Dotson's 11 penalties were tied for third-most in the NFL in 2022. The Steelers acted quick on that issue, signing both Herbig and Seumalo in free agency. Now, not only is his starting spot gone, but Dotson's standing with the team is in jeopardy. The team could save $2.7 million by cutting him before the 2023 campaign. He is an unrestricted free agent next offseason as well, which is something to keep in mind.
Will the Steelers cut both Green and Dotson?
While he would still make for a good backup, there may not be much room for him with Herbig in town. It seems like a foregone conclusion that Green will be gone, as evidenced by his inability to see the field in 2022. Dotson will be a tougher decision though, as he still had moments of solid play this past season. For $2.7 million though, he may not be worth the price in keeping.
Do you guys think the team will/should cut Dotson? How good will the offensive line be in 2023 with the addition of Seumalo? What do you think the starting OL will look like in Week 1?
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