It’s becoming obvious that the Pittsburgh Steelers will need to be aggressive if they intend to sign Zach Frazier, a West Virginia offensive lineman, as his stock rises in the NFL.
Frazier is next in line since Jackson Powers-Johnson, another outstanding prospect, is generally thought to be the first centre off the board.
Frazier is a player that satisfies all of Mike Tomlin’s typical criteria: he is mature, smart, and athletic. However, Tomlin and Pittsburgh, who select at No. 20 in the first round and No. 51 in the second, may need to trade up to grab the star centre, who attended WVU, a university located around 70 miles to the south.
As per Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus, the Dallas Cowboys are Pittsburgh’s main rival for Frazier. In a recent interview with 93.7 The Fan, Palazzolo expressed his doubt that Frazier will slip past the Cowboys at selection No. 24, which would force the Steelers to choose the native of Fairmont, West Virginia, in the first round.
Although Frazier is still projected to go in the second round in some mock drafts, it’s safe to assume that he won’t be available at pick No. 51. Furthermore, the Steelers and Cowboys could not be the only teams with a first-round rating on Frazier, according to remarks made by former offensive lineman turned NFL analyst Brian Baldinger on The Krueg Show with Larry Krueger.
“On the first day I observed him, I texted a personnel director and asked whether Zach Frazier could take over at centre. And he leaves at that moment. Baldinger declared. Indeed, he is our starting centre, and he texts me back instantly. He might start at centre for us.”
Having said that, a source told Mike DeFabo of The Athletic that the Steelers “absolutely love” Frazier. According to DeFabo, the Steelers have very high expectations for Frazier’s professional career. Should that be the case, Tomlin and Omar Khan, the general manager, might have to choose Frazier in the first round.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have an immense legacy in centre field, which has been exemplified by former all-time greats Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, and more recently, Maurkice Pouncey. Pouncey might wind up in Canton alongside Webster and Dawson, who are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Pittsburgh is looking to this year’s draft in hopes of finding their next star centre. Tony Caridi, a veteran play-by-play announcer from West Virginia, thinks Frazier would be a good fit. Caridi even believes Frazier was destined to play for the Steelers.
“On my team, I would pick twelve Zach Fraziers. “I believe he would be an ideal fit for the Steelers,” Caridi stated on 93.7 The Fan in response to a question about the likelihood that Frazier would be selected by the NFL team closest to Morgantown.
