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The Pittsburgh Steelers enter a busy training camp as the team reports to Saint Vincent College soon. The camp marks Mike McCarthy’s first as the Steelers’ new head coach. Along with getting his roster acclimated to a new coaching staff and scheme, McCarthy will have several contract situations worth monitoring. While most of the attention has centered on the defense, a surprising name on offense could emerge with two significant victories during training camp.
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Nick Farabaugh, Steelers insider for PennLive, joined 93.7 The Fan and said Spencer Anderson could be a surprising candidate to receive one of the Steelers’ next contract extensions.
“One surprising candidate I could see coming out of the shadows is Spencer Anderson. He’s a sixth offensive lineman who could be the starting right guard this year. If he ends up winning the job and they really like how he goes about his work, we could see a cheaper kind of extension. Anderson is the type of guy who makes a lot of sense for an extension,” Farabaugh said.
Spencer Anderson could parlay two wins in one preseason
Anderson is in a strong position to win the starting right guard job. He will face competition, but he has steadily improved over the past two seasons. In 2024, he stepped in after James Daniels’ injury before Mason McCormick ultimately took over at right guard. However, Anderson played well in spot duty for Isaac Seumalo and excelled as the Steelers’ sixth offensive lineman in jumbo packages. He even caught a pass last season, showcasing his impressive athleticism.
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While Anderson’s athletic ability gives him an intriguing ceiling, training camp will provide an early test. His interior offensive line play remains somewhat raw because he played every position along the offensive line at Maryland. He logged snaps at guard, tackle, and center, but now has an opportunity to focus on one position where the Steelers still need a long-term answer. If Anderson wins the starting job, he could also earn a second contract, adding another success story to Pittsburgh’s productive 2023 draft class. So, what might that extension look like?
Anderson’s possible contract shouldn’t be a major salary cap hit
Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith currently tops the market at $23.5 million per year, but Anderson is highly unlikely to approach that level. Although he has performed well in starts, including the 2024 Wild Card game and the 2025 game against the Detroit Lions, his body of work as a starter remains limited. A more realistic comparison could be Brock Hoffman, the player Anderson is competing against. Hoffman signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Steelers in free agency, which likely represents the floor of Anderson’s potential extension.
At this stage of his career, Anderson’s ceiling is probably closer to Cleveland Browns guard Teven Jenkins, who signed a one-year, $5.2 million contract with void years that spread out the cap hit. That puts Anderson’s likely range between $2.5 million and $5.2 million annually. If the Steelers prioritize an extension and both sides reach an agreement, a two-year deal seems like the most likely outcome. Such a structure would remain team-friendly while giving Anderson the chance to outperform the contract and negotiate another extension in a couple of years. If things don’t work out, the Steelers would still have the flexibility to explore other options.
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This story was originally published July 26, 2026 at 8:30 AM.