Pundits anticipate the Pittsburgh Steelers will look for a center in free agency this year. If the Steelers decide that a backup center is the best option, then Brian Allen is an interesting choice for Pittsburgh.
Mark Kaboly from The Athletic linked Allen to the Steelers as a potential target in free agency on March 5.
According to Kaboly, “Allen has been frequently injured since he started for the Rams, who were Super Bowl champions in 2021, but is still one of the better available centers. He’s much better at blocking for running plays than for passing plays.”
Allen has participated in 32 games during his five years in the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams picked him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
He started 20 games including the playoffs for the Rams when they won the Super Bowl during the 2021-22 season.
However, the Steelers are planning to meet with a different center at the beginning of free agency. Joe Rutter from The Triblive.com reported that the Steelers have arranged a meeting with veteran center Mitch Morse before free agency starts on March 13.
Morse has started 126 games in his 9-year NFL career. He started 77 games over the past five years with the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills let go of Morse this year to free up $8.5 million in salary cap space.
Steelers interested in Rams Center Brian Allen
Whether or not the Steelers are interested in Allen may depend on how they want to continue building their offensive line.
Kaboly named center Connor Williams as the top free agent target at center for the Steelers. But Williams will be pricier and is not a short-term solution like Allen.
“Williams could be one of the best available, as he has 77 starts in six seasons and doesn’t turn 27 until May, although he does have durability concerns,” Kaboly wrote. “Spotrac predicts his market value at $67 million on a five-year deal.
“Williams would be a long-term starter and not fill in temporarily, so signing him would take center off the board in the draft.”
If the Steelers want to focus on either Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon or Zach Frazier from West Virginia, as many experts who predict the draft have suggested, then Allen would be a good addition for the Steelers to make at center before the draft.
Allen was a dependable starter on a Super Bowl-winning team only three seasons ago. However, in 2022, he only started 7 games because of knee and thumb injuries. Then last season, he didn’t start at all after Coleman Shelton became the new starting center for the Rams.
Considering his experience, the Steelers could turn to Allen if necessary. However, he’s likely to be inexpensive enough to move into a backup role behind a rookie.
Steelers to Meet With Bills Center Mitch Morse
The Steelers are planning to meet with quarterback Russell Wilson had which made most of the league and NFL media members upset on March 8. But the Steelers also plan to meet with Morse before free agency officially begins.
Morse will turn 32 in April, so he doesn’t offer the same long-term security as Williams. However, Williams has been a reliable starter for the past five years, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2022.
Before joining the Bills, Morse started 49 games for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2015 to 2018.
The Steelers need a new center this offseason since they let go of their experienced Mason Cole on February 23.
