The draft is officially over and attention will shift to OTAs and off-season camps. The 90-man roster is set and the team will be looking at their depth chart for every position entering camp. This series will examine who has the inside chances to be higher on the depth chart come August. For this edition, we will look at center.
Pittsburgh Steelers Center Depth Chart Projections
1. Maurkice Pouncey
There certainly will not be a battle at the center position when the Steelers head to St. Vincent for training camp. Maurkice Pouncey has been one of the best centers in the league during his career. He has been named to five Pro Bowls and two first team All-Pros.
However, the question with Pouncey has never been on the field. It has been him staying on the field. Pouncey has had a bad injury history. While he had played in 15 games last season, missing week 17 as a healthy scratch when the Steelers had nothing to play for, he missed the entire 2015 season with a broken fibula.
While it would be easy to tag him with the injury prone tag, he has truly just been unlucky. Being injury prone would be hurting the same thing over and over, or dealing with non-contact injuries. Pouncey has dealt with everything from a broken fibula, to an ankle injury, to a torn MCL and ACL. All of them have been random occurrences and have come due to being involved in the physical play of the NFL. It has been a tough for him at times, but he has proven tough and has five seasons with at least 14 starts.
Pouncey is signed on for the next three seasons at a reasonable price. At this rate, he may still be able to hang around after his contract and earn a shorter extension to finish his career in Pittsburgh.
2. Kyle Friend
Kyle Friend is currently listed on the depth chart as a backup, but he still may not make the roster. B.J. Finney has been a center and would be the first name the Steelers go to when it comes to filling in for Pouncey due to injury. Finney is a guard as well, but his ability to do both will ensure him a roster spot.
It will also make things harder for Friend to make the roster. Friend is an undrafted free agent from Temple. He was a three-time team captain at Temple and was teammates with linebacker Tyler Matakevich. Matakevich surely had a great review of him and the Steelers gave him a chance. However, Friend is a player who wins with leadership and toughness more than skill, athleticism and size. Friend may be able to earn himself a practice squad invite and is a player to keep an eye on, but his chances of making the roster are slim at this point.
3. Mike Matthews
Matthews is the younger brother of Falcons tackle Jake Matthews. However, Matthews does not nearly have the size or ability of his brother. Matthews is another player who may be better off of the field than on the field. He is a knowledgeable player with an NFL background, but it is likely that he and Friend are fighting for a practice squad spot more than a roster spot.
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