Some Cook data from last year.

Across 348 offensive snaps logged, Cook allowed an outstanding 6.9% pressure rate and 0.6% sack rate.


These are elite numbers.

He should be a little better in his second season startng.

 

Cook will be second team eventually

 

I disagree. He’s going to become a highly paid tackle and cash in big through free agency next year. IE. A starter on another team. 4 games starting is not a fluke, and Cook did very will in those games.

 

i have to agree that cook has done quite well.

 

Despite starting for only 4 games, and no starting experience previously, Cook has been very good. He only earned his starting job because of injuries — he was never properly developed or promoted by the previous regime, which was notoriously tackle blind. With the new coaching staff in place, their old evaluation doesn’t carry much weight anymore. Cook has legitimate “stick ‘em” ability. He engages defenders quickly, anchors solidly, moves his feet well, and uses his hands effectively.

I gave him an A grade for his overall play last season. He might have been the most under rated Steeler last season. What no coach or media member has explained in any convincing detail is why he’s playing right tackle instead of starting at left tackle. He was excellent at left tackle in those 4 games. Four games at left tackle in the NFL is not a fluke. I posted his stats in this thread. Inferior or unready left tackles get exposed very quickly. Aside from quarterback, left tackle is the most important position on the offense IMO. Cook has already shown he can handle it at a high level.

So why move him to right tackle? Left tackle is not a position you screw around with.

 

cook has practiced as a swing tackle for 3 years now in preseason and even some at guard. he finished college with 23 starts at right tackle.

 

"Wasn't developed properly"...? Did you skip over his history with the team? Like 2024 when Cook was on IR after a TC injury. Then in 2025 he was IR'd again with a foot injury.

This is a guy with less than half a season of snaps. He will stay a swing tackle.

 

Brings a new meaning to Mac's "What's Cooking" thread.

 

Hopefully he follows the Moore Jr. route and we get a good comp.

Seems reasonably likely since most teams are pretty desperate for OL help.

I doubt he makes as much as Moore did (as cap%) though. His body of work is much smaller.

I think he's probably at least a good backup. Which is a very valuable thing at OT.

He filled in well for injuries last year. Picking an OT in round 1 is not good for his long term prospects on the team this year.

But he could easily begin the year as a starter. And usually you have to lose your job one you're a starter on day 1.

Hopefully either he or Max wins the job outright and we have some more clarity at a critically important position.

 

But what if you're blinded by your feelings about the former HC?

Can you then blame his lack of development on the HC?

 

He was recognized by the Steelers coaches mostly by accident. He had been buried on the depth chart until injuries hit. Once given a chance, he proved he was clearly better than Jones and the other guy ( Can't think of is name ) who got hurt that year. In the end, he was promoted out of necessity rather than because the coaches had truly recognized his talent.

Now, don't you agree he played well in his 4 games as the left tackle, Bubba? I listed some of his stats for review. They do not match that of a swing tackle. Rather a quality starter.

Troy F. was hurt too. I don't hold that against him.

 

Pat Meyer was the offensive line coach in 2025, brought in by a head coach who had no real coaching tree to speak of that really did not know NFL offenses well. Both are gone now. Once Cook got his opportunity after two starters went down, he clearly outplayed Jones and the other lineman who got hurt that year. In the end, he was promoted purely out of necessity rather than because the coaching staff liked him more than Jones or the other guy. Both coaches in 2025 are at fault and picked who starts. After seeing them struggle in games and 40+ practices ...

So excuse me when I say Meyer and the head coach ( no name mentioned ) misjudged the players in 2025— they simply picked who they liked. I try not to let rooting interests get in the way of the facts . But now, entering the 2026 season, Cook is projected to be the starting left tackle.

- JB

 

He did well in a small sample. This is much better than doing poorly in a small sample. But it doesn't make a career (see: Rudolph, Mason).

Hopefully Cook can stay healthy and continue playing well in a larger sample.

Then he can stay as a starter or high quality backup. Or he can leave and get us a high comp pick.

I assume that he's not going to stay since we have 3x OTs with very high pedigree on the team (although I think Jones is gone without a very, very good year).

I think the ideal situation is that Max is awesome from the jump and Cook never sees the field in the regular season. Then his price isn't stupid and we can sign him to be a good backup.

But Max is raw and Jones is some combination of hurt and inconsistent. So Cook has a chance to see the field in real games this year IMO.

I know you really like prospects. And I think it's possible that he turns out to be a starter. But I think it's important not to get overly impressed by small samples. He's TBD (after a good showing). He also has real injury concerns.

I think McCollum also had a really nice couple games when Frazier was hurt earlier in their careers (back to back games with a 100 yard rusher IIRC, in a time where we didn't do that often). But I don't think anyone is clamoring for him to be a starter.

 

Yes, 4 games starting might be a fluke. The more film out there the more likely a team will spot your flaw and exploit it.

You see this happen all the time in a players 2nd year, as teams start to get enough film on you, that they can start scheming to beat you, because of your flaws.

Troy and Max will be your starters by mid season.

 

The ideal situation is the Steelers end up having 4 high end starting OTs in Jones, Fannypack or however you spell his name, Anchor Max, and Cook.

If you want to acquire players or draft picks for your future roster.....few things more attractive than a starting caliber OT to dangle.

 

Which explains why he was 4th team

A hand full of snaps last year some of which were good does not change his whole resume

He will only be first team RT if jones does not comeback

He will only be first team RT until Iheanachor looks at him in the rear view mirror

He was an UDFA for a reason

They drafted a player in the first round to replace him

If you want to know what the coaches think of him see what the Steelers web page says about his pro career:

https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/dylan-cook/

 

No team has ever thought “we have too many good tackles”

 

You will need to show me a current Steelers depth chart that projects him being the starting left tackle

Or any reasonable source other than you

He is not even projected to be the starting right tackle at this point no one is

 

Nope

He played well in two he played ok in one he played poorly in the last one

 

Oh by the way you did make me look but you could have added it to this redundant post someone started

https://thesteelersfans.com/forums/threads/dylan-cook-what-makes-him-so-good.35966/

 

Too many knobs in the kitchen

 

That playoff game against Will Anderson really exposed him. Cook looked like a 4th string UDFA against him, although Anderson has done that to a lot of left tackles.

 

June depth charts are meaningless. Cook starts at RT unless Troy Fautanu flops hard at LT in camp. Jones dropped 20+ lbs and still isn’t healthy. I say he opens camp on PUP.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/pit

 

Nope. Who say he played just okay in two games? Try he was very good. And he started 4 games if you include the playoffs. If you must use the media grades of PFF grades.

I could post the PFF grade here , but I take it you seen them already, but just in case I will repost Cook's grades.

• Pass-Blocking Grade: 80.7 — Ranked 8th out of 89 tackles.

• Overall Grade: 76.0 — Ranked 22nd out of 89 tackles.

 

So no one other than you is projecting him as a starter

As expected