The Steelers released veteran guard David DeCastro and, though his future is up in the air, these NFL teams should be jumping at the chance to sign him.
If you thought the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line was already going to look completely different in the 2021 NFL season, they were just getting started. Already parting with three starters from last year, on Thursday, the franchise released veteran guard David DeCastro, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The move certainly came as a bit of a shock given his stalwart nature on the Steelers offensive line. However, Mike Garafolo added some context to the decision as DeCastro has been dealing with ankle issues — he had surgery last offseason — for some time that continue to bother him. In fact, the veteran guard will now evaluate his options regarding every playing again following his release.
So it’s no guarantee that DeCastro even plays in the 2021 season. However, this is a player who has been one of the better guards in the NFL for almost his entire career. If he can get healthy and does want to sign, he should be a hot commodity on the free-agent market.
And if he does hit the market, three teams stand out as possible landing spots and clubs that could really use the veteran’s services on the offensive line.
David DeCastro would help any of these 3 NFL teams if he plays
3. Miami Dolphins – What the Miami Dolphins have done to reshape their offensive line has been admirable as they’ve brought in a number of talented young players with positional versatility. Yet, they seemingly haven’t figured out the ideal rotation and, moreover, the depth for the O-line group is a bit of a concern right now.
While DeCastro may not be the star at guard that he once was, he would open up some attractive doors for the Dolphins. Liam Eichenberg could get quality practice looks at tackle and guard, as could Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt. All told, adding DeCastro would give Miami the ability to find the true best spot for all of their young bodies.
2. Las Vegas Raiders – Few teams operated in a more perplexing manner than the Raiders, namely because they blew up their offensive line, which was a decisive strength for Las Vegas last season. And while they’ve patched things together at one guard spot with Richie Incognito returning, the other guard position is a bit of a mystery.
Denzelle Good is the expected starter opposite of Incognito but DeCastro would represent the potential to really solidify that spot in a much more meaningful manner. To keep the offense, which was better than many might expect in 2020, operating at a high level, maintaining some integrity in the trenches would be wise for the silver and black.
1. New York Jets – Under the watchful eye of general manager Joe Douglas, the Jets have made a concerted investment in the offensive line. The draft is the best evidence of this as they’ve used first-round picks in the last two classes on Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker. The O-line as a whole, however, remains somewhat incomplete.
As of right now, Greg Van Roten is slated to start at the guard spot opposite of Vera-Tucker. While Van Roten is an upgrade from what the Jets have had there previously, DeCastro would be a big upgrade from him if healthy. With a young quarterback in Zach Wilson taking over, the Jets would be wise to protect that investment under center.