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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Curt Popejoy

Rookie Zach Frazier looks like the next great Steelers center

There are few NFL franchises that can boast the historical roster of centers the Pittsburgh Steelers can. The list starts with Mike Webster who was the anchor of the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s.

After Webster was another Hall of Famer in Dermontti Dawson. Even after Dawson, the Steelers had guys like Jeff Hartins and Maurkice Pouncey who were elite players in their own right.

But after Pouncey retired in 2021, the Steelers were forced to tread water for three seasons with some misses at the position including Kendrick Green and Mason Cole.

The Steelers coaches recognized the need for a top-tier center and found themselves on in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft in Zach Frazier. The former West Virginia star was pressed into a starting role when Nate Herbig went on IR and he’s been exceptional.

Frazier has played 273 offensive snaps with zero penalties. 145 of those snaps have been on pass plays and he has yet to give up a sack. According to Pro Football Focus, Frazier is the highest-graded rookie offensive lineman and fourth highest-graded center in the NFL through four weeks.

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