The Pittsburgh Steelers made a few smart free agent signings. Bringing in cornerback Jamel Dean and running back Rico Dowdle were bigger moves, but there’s another free agent signing who could make a big difference for the team this year. The Steelers signed Brock Hoffman, an interior offensive lineman who played under Mike McCarthy while McCarthy was coaching the Cowboys. Hoffman’s experience at multiple positions and stability in general make him the team’s most underrated signing.
While Hoffman doesn’t have a ton of experience at left guard, he’s experienced as a center and right guard. He has 1,212 total snaps over the last three seasons: 684 at center, 452 at right guard and 74 at left guard. That makes him valuable as a backup center option, but he’s also going to compete for a spot at right guard. He’s familiar with the coaching staff and has overall been a steady player when called upon.
Even if Spencer Anderson beats out Hoffman to start at right guard, the Steelers have a versatile, experienced interior offensive lineman who can help at all three positions and possibly fill the role as tackle-eligible offensive lineman if needed. For a team where the offensive line should be a strength, having a reliable veteran in Hoffman as either a starter or a top backup is important.
A good offensive line can become a bad one if it doesn’t have depth, and Hoffman gives them a player who can play across the interior if injuries strike or can start and deliver a reasonably high level of play.
Hoffman likely won’t have the same impact as someone like Dean or Dowdle, but if he starts, he’ll play an important role. If he doesn’t, he’s still a valuable piece to have. For just $2.5 million, signing Hoffman was good business. The familiarity with the coaching staff also plays in his favor, and that could give him a leg up on Anderson when it comes to the right guard position battle.
Obviously, it wasn’t a flashy move when Pittsburgh signed Hoffman. The official news broke late on a Friday night and it wasn’t a deal that was going to interrupt every sports network. But if the offensive line is a strength for the Steelers, as it should be, Hoffman’s addition is a big one and could have a big impact on the team’s success this season.