OT Dylan Cook keeps competing as season opens

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – No matter the odds, the competition, Dylan Cook just keeps working. The fourth-year offensive lineman is listed as the Steelers starting right tackle for the season opener Sunday, but at least has a peripheral awareness of the talk and sees rookie Max Iheanachor’s improvement.

And he just does what he does, puts his head down and works.

“Just another year of competing,” Cook told 93.7 The Fan.

Cook competed to become a starter and eventually all-conference right tackle at the University of Montana after making a switch from quarterback early in his career.

At 6’5”, 305 pounds, he competed in his first training camp with Tampa Bay in 2022 to make the roster as an undrafted free agent and earned a spot on the practice squad. When released by the Bucs the next year before voluntary workouts started, he kept working. He signed with the Steelers in May of 2023 and battled through injuries and being on-and-off practices squads and finally last year was elevated to an NFL active roster.

The 28-year-old would play his first game against the Ravens and due to injury to Broderick Jones and would start the last four games of the regular season and the playoff game at left tackle.

A shocking change in head coaches in January and Cook was now having to prove himself again, to an entirely new staff. Through free agency, as Jones struggled to return from a serious neck injury, Cook remained in line to be a starter. There was no major move at tackle.

As coaches met to evaluate the roster, there was an early decision to move 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu over to left tackle, where he played in college. That still left an opportunity for Cook at right tackle, where he played in college.

Well into the first round of the NFL Draft in April, the Steelers were on the phone with receiver Makai Lemon, to make him the team’s first-round pick, only to have Philadelphia select him the pick before the Steelers. Instead of a receiver in the first round, GM Omar Khan and the staff selected right tackle Iheanachor.

A potential career-altering change of events, but Cook kept competing. The Montana native got every rep of every first team OTA, same in mini-camp and continued into training camp, Cook was at right tackle. As he settled into just playing one position, he got better.

“I’ve tried to just make the most of my days,” Cook said. “Really just looking at myself, that’s the best part of training camp is you really get to look at your own game every single day. Figuring out myself, what I do right, what I do wrong, really just self-awareness in general.”

The former college quarterback feels he’s taken a good leap in his performance since OTAs.

While a couple of positions remain in question, Cook continues to be listed as the starter against Atlanta.

“Very proud of him, he’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do,” said first-year Steelers offensive line coach James Campen.

But there is an inevitability. When an NFL team takes a player in the first round, they are expected to be a starter. And in recent times it’s sooner rather than later. Iheanachor only plays right tackle and with help from pointers from Cook, he’s overcome a camp neck injury and continues to improve.

Iheanachor only played in the final preseason game, but progressed as it went along. When Max went into the game, Cook moved and played snaps on the other side.

“He’s gone over and played left in case he’s needed there,” Campen said. “He’s grown. He’s getting his feet underneath him, his base.”

That dream of being a starting tackle might be short-lived. When asked how he’s dealing with this or thoughts on the future, Cook had a simple answer.

“Just win, simple as that,” Cook said.

It’s about growing as a group, according to Cook, becoming the best offensive line they can be. It is an extremely tight unit and Cook has earned a spot there, whether it’s starting or swing tackle.

He just never gave up and kept battling.

“We are all very proud of him,” Campen said. ”He’s a Montana kid that was a free agent that doesn’t accept losing. He’s a good football player, glad we have him.”