Steelers are hoping to repeat history as rookies build 'brotherhood'

From 2010 to 2012, the Steelers drafted center Maurkice Pouncey, guard David DeCastro and offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert.

All three were pillars of Pittsburgh's offensive line for nearly a decade and created one of the best units in the league during that time.

The reason why they were so great was because they had the opportunity to learn and grow with each other. The Steelers hope their 2024 NFL Draft class can follow in their footsteps.

Pittsburgh used three of its first five picks this year to select offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier and guard Mason McCormick, setting them up with similar opportunities as Pouncey, DeCastro and Gilbert.

Fautanu acknowledged how special it is following the first day of the Steelers' rookie minicamp.

"We're all trying to learn the system. We've never been in the NFL. We don't know what it's like, but being able to navigate that together is something that I wouldn't trade for the world," Fautanu said. "Having Zach and Mason out here with me and me being alongside them is something that not a lot of guys get."

The three revealed they have already spent much time together since being drafted and that they all drove together in Frazier's truck to the Southside facility on Friday.

"Offensive line is a brotherhood. That's how it's been everywhere I've been," Frazier stated. "We're going to be great friends, I can already tell."

The three will still experience the ups and downs of being rookies, but McCormick believes they will be better in the long run by going through them together.

"Being around guys like Zach and Troy, who are awesome dudes and they work extremely hard, it's good to be able to lean on one another and develop together," McCormick added.

Only time will tell if Fautanu, Frazier and McCormick can repeat history by becoming the Steelers' next stars on the offensive line, but they will have a good chance to earn early roles and develop into just that.