The Steelers’ starting center for the past two years, Mason Cole, has entered free agency once again. The team made the announcement of releasing the veteran interior offensive lineman on Friday.
Pittsburgh has made efforts to upgrade their offensive line in the past two years, signing Cole, James Daniels, and Isaac Seumalo. While the guards remain with the team, Cole will now be seeking a new NFL team after starting every Steelers game in the last two seasons.
Cole had one season left on his three-year, $15.75MM deal. The release will save the Steelers $4.75MM without any additional complications. At 28 years old, Cole is likely to attract interest in the open market. Being released early allows Cole a head start on other unrestricted free agents in the upcoming offseason.
After a solid ranking as the NFL’s 12th-best center in 2022, Cole’s performance dropped to 29th last season according to Pro Football Focus. With the team’s offensive struggles and coaching changes, the Steelers will be looking for new starters on the offensive line. Despite the challenges, the Steelers have had good continuity on the front line since adding Cole and Daniels in 2022. Cole, Daniels, and Seumalo played together for 18 games last season, with Dan Moore starting 17 games and Daniels available for 16.
The Steelers, known for cautious spending, made strategic moves to strengthen their O-line during Kenny Pickett‘s rookie deal. Cole’s center contract represented good value, but the team will now move on as they navigate uncertainties surrounding Pickett’s future.
Cole provided stability after Kendrick Green‘s rough 2021 season as the starter. With Green and Kevin Dotson traded last year, the team fully embraced the free agent trio inside. While they have some options on the roster, the search for Cole’s replacement is still ongoing.