Steelers Rookie Zach Frazier Emerges as NFL’s Next Great Center

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center Zach Frazier, selected 51st overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, has quickly established himself as one of the league’s top rookies. The West Virginia product earned recognition as the Steelers’ best rookie and finished the season as one of the NFL’s most reliable centers, showcasing his potential to become a cornerstone of the franchise.

NFL.com analyst Gennaro Filice ranked Frazier as the 8th-best rookie of the 2024 season, praising his ability to follow in the footsteps of Steelers legends like Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, and Maurkice Pouncey. “It looks like Pittsburgh has its next great center,” Filice wrote. “Frazier gave up just 15 pressures over 15 starts, allowing a minuscule 2.7 percent pressure rate over 548 pass-blocking snaps.”

Frazier’s performance was particularly impressive in pass protection, where he surrendered only one sack all season, coming in Week 12 against Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Frazier earned a 74.9 overall grade, including a 79.7 in run blocking and a 66.6 in pass blocking. His relentless effort and physicality in the run game stood out, as he consistently played through the whistle and excelled at reaching the second level to block defenders.

Former Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, a nine-time Pro Bowler, endorsed Frazier early in the season, calling him a potential staple for the team. Frazier’s combination of athleticism, strength, and football IQ has made him a key piece of the Steelers’ offensive line, and his future in the NFL appears exceptionally bright.