Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Dennis Daley runs off the field after losing his shoe during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Bank of America Stadium on August 29, 2019.
On Tuesday the Pittsburgh Steelers made a trade for veteran offensive lineman Jesse Davis, who came over from the Minnesota Vikings at the cost of a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick. But Davis may not have been Pittsburgh’s first choice in terms of a trade acquisition at that position group.
According to a report by Jeremy Fowler, senior NFL reporter for ESPN, the Steelers were “not only eager to get OL help” this week, “(m)ultiple teams believed they were in on Dennis Daley,” who the Carolina Panthers traded to the Tennessee Titans (along with a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft) in exchange for a 2024 fifth-rounder.
#Steelers were eager to get OL help this week — they were the team that came up most often in regards to trades for that position. Multiple teams believed they were in on Dennis Daley (who went to TEN via trade). Eventually got Jesse Davis.
What Did the Steelers Miss Out on in Dennis Daley
Daley — 6-foot-6 and 326 pounds — is a former sixth-round pick of the Panthers, selected No. 212 overall out of South Carolina. The 26-year-old Fort Lauderdale native has played in 34 career games, with 21 starts. Much like Jesse Davis, he has played almost everywhere on the offensive line except center, with 13 starts at left tackle, seven at left guard and one at right guard.
It suggests that the Steelers aren’t really sure which offensive line position — or positions — are going to be their biggest problem, and that they wanted to acquire a veteran who could fill in pretty much anywhere except center.
For what it’s worth, neither player has Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades that are especially inspiring.
Daley earned a 51.8 overall grade from PFF last season, dragged down by a woeful 36.4 pass blocking grade. In 2020 he was way better, getting a 64.7 overall grade that was boosted by an uplifting 69.2 pass blocking grade. As a rookie, he was 57.7 overall, with his pass blocking numbers again dragging him down.
By way of comparison: PFF gave Davis a 52.5 overall grade across 1,063 offensive snaps in 2021. The year prior he received a 62.6 grade, and in the years before that a 58.9 and 59.2.
Steelers Bring Back 3 Offensive Linemen Via the Practice Squad
Meanwhile, on Wednesday the Steelers began the process of assembling their practice squad. The Steelers formally announced the addition of eight players to the squad at 5:40 p.m. ET, but Brooke Pryor of ESPN was ahead of the curve, having previously reported that the Steelers would be bringing back offensive lineman John Leglue, who was one of the seven O-linemen released on Tuesday.
John Leglue is staying in Pittsburgh after all. The versatile OL just signed to the practice squad, per source.
Leglue, 26, was first signed by the Steelers in late 2020 as a practice squad addition. Last season he appeared in six games, with five starts.
The Steelers are also running it back with Ryan McCollum, who was claimed on waivers from the Detroit Lions on August 16.
McCollum, 24, is a center who played collegiately at Texas A&M on a line that also featured Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. He appeared in 13 games for the Lions (with one start) in 2021, playing a total of 101 snaps on offense and 47 on special teams, according to Pro Football Reference.
The third offensive lineman joining the practice squad is William Dunkle, a rookie undrafted free agent guard out of San Diego State who was initially signed on August 16.
The five other players added are: defensive lineman Carlos Davis, running back Anthony McFarland, linebacker Hamilcar Rashed, safety Elijah Riley and wide receiver Cody White, the latter of whom is the son of Sheldon White, the Steelers’ Director of Pro Scouting.