PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After a few days have passed, now looking at how the Steelers can replace center Maurkice Pouncey. There are a few options.
Internal
A deal with restricted free agent JC Hassenauer. The 26-year-old signed with the team in December of 2019 and was an undrafted free agent signing with the Falcons in 2018. The 6’2, 295-pound Hassenauer was never a starter in college, although he was a top reserve at Alabama. He started four games for the Steelers last year.
He’s also the cheapest option, making only $540,000 in 2020.
Free agent
Veterans Alex Mack, Corey Linsley, David Andrews, Austin Reiter and Ted Karras are free agents, but likely too expensive. There are cheaper options with more risk—29-year-old Josh Andrews started four games for the Jets last year. Tyler Shatley, 30, started 10 games with the Jags last season and started 25 of the 94 games he’s played in Jacksonville.
Those are a couple of likely more affordable players, who have started multiple games in the NFL.
Draft
Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline told 93.7 The Fan Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey is the only center worth a first round pick and he’s projected right around where the Steelers pick at 24.
Humphrey, 6’4”, 312 pounds, has tremendous strength and a wrestling background. Pauline said he’s “more zone blocking center, who can get into the second level”.
Pauline believes there are options in day 2 of the NFL Draft-6’5”, 312 pound Josh Myers from Ohio State is known more for his run blocking than pass protection.
Penn Stater Michal Menet is 6’4”, 302 pounds and started the last two seasons. His run blocking is also ahead of pass protection and he could be around on Day 3. Menet was at the Senior Bowl, a place the Steelers scout hard.
Trey Hill is projected by some as higher, but Pauline believes the 6’4”, 330 pound Georgia center would be available in the fifth round. He has the size to take on big defensive tackles. The Pro Football Network expert believes snapping accuracy is an area of concern.
The roll of the dice is 6’6”, 308 pound Landon Dickerson from Alabama who suffered a mostly season-ending knee injury against Florida in the SEC Championship game. He possesses the brains and technique you are looking for in a center, but his injury history goes beyond last year.
Not just because he practiced on the same acreage, but Pitt’s Jimmy Morrissey is a late round option. The former walk-on doesn’t do anything spectacular, but checks every box especially the intangibles. He’s likely not a guy you would pick to start right away, but then again, no one thought he could play Division 1 out of high school.
Pauline believes its more important to have your most gifted lineman at tackle and that brains, toughness and agility are the most important factors for a successful center.
The Steelers have had an uncanny ability to find Hall of Fame worth centers every generation.
Who will the next one be?