There's a new offensive-minded regime leading the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026, and we decided to analyze which players from the unit could finish atop their respective positions.
Here's a look at our predictions for the top performers on offense for the Steelers in 2026, including a few painfully obvious picks and a few surprise picks.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers
Unless Rodgers goes down with an injury, there's no reason to expect another Steelers quarterback to finish with a better performance.
Running back: Rico Dowdle
Our first curveball of the list. Yes, Jaylen Warren is still considered to play a big role on offense, but Dowdle proved himself to be a more efficient rusher over the past several seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers. Warren will see more work in the receiving game,
but Dowdle should finish as the top performer.
Fullback: Riley Nowakowski
This is honestly the easiest selection of the list so far, as Nowakowski is the only fullback currently on the roster.
Wide receiver: DK Metcalf
The arrival of Michael Pittman Jr. will very likely unlock the Metcalf of years past and ultimately lead to a huge bounce-back season for the lightning-fast receiver.
Tight end: Pat Freiermuth
Jonnu Smith favoritism and a mediocre Steelers' offensive system didn't do Freiermuth any favors in 2025. Freiermuth is one of the primary beneficiaries of Mike McCarthy being hired as the next head coach of the Steelers and should easily be the top performer at tight end.
Offensive tackle: Max Iheanachor
This selection is bound to catch a lot of flak, but Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook struggled pretty badly during the preseason. Iheanachor didn't look that much better and missed a solid amount of time while recovering from a neck/shoulder injury, but his upside is too much to look past. Here's to hoping he earns a starting position within the first few games.
Offensive guard: Mason McCormick
McCormick moved from right guard to left guard this offseason and has handled the transition fairly well. There's far more concern with the other guards on the roster than McCormick, which is why he should finish as the top performer.
Center: Zach Frazier
Another selection similar to that of Rodgers, Frazier should all but finish as the top-performing center unless he misses time due to injury.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Predicting the Steelers’ top performer at every position on offense
