PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He is the one offensive lineman most mocked to the Steelers in the first round and Olaivavega Ioane visited the South Side on Tuesday.
The former Penn State star has been All-Big 10 all three years he played. Ioane was Second-Team All-American in 2025 and started 27 games at left guard over the last two years with the Nittany Lions.
With Isaac Seumalo leaving in free agency, there is an opening at left guard with Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman currently the two battling for that position.
Ioane is a physical run blocker who can move defensive linemen with his leverage and strength. The knock from NFL.com is he is not as athletic as some guards and can get beat by quicker players.
He is far-and-away the highest ranked guard, listed as the 16th best overall player by Pro Football Focus who evaluated him with an 87 pass-blocking grade and 95th percentile on five-and-seven-step drops. According to PFF Ioane allowed just four total hurries the entire 2025 season. Vega has one of his highest PFF game rankings against a loaded Ohio State front last season.
Steelers do have recent history in first round guards-Alan Faneca won two Super Bowls and is a Hall of Famer. David DeCastro will be in the Steelers Hall of Honor as a near decade-long starter.
G Beau Stephens
The 6’5”, 315-pound Iowa guard is less likely an immediate starter like Ioane, but NFL.com projects he can develop into a starter. He was rated higher than Ioane last year in college being named First-Team All-American as part of a Hawkeyes offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top line. NFL.com said he’s great with angle and adjustments, but has short arms and an average athlete. Pro Football Focus lists him as the seventh-best guard and likely a Day 3 pick.
TE Will Kacmarek
Potentially a Day 3 pick, Kacmarek has size at 6’6”, 261 pounds, he did start 10 games last year, but mostly for his run blocking. He was Honorable Mention All-Big 10 with 15 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Because of that physical play, NFL.com lists him with the potential to be a starter in the NFL one day. A transfer from Ohio University, Kacmarek needs to work on his feed and fluidity according to NFL.com.
One of two guards and a tight end on the South Side
One of two guards and a tight end on the South Side
