The Pittsburgh Steelers know that they may need Mason McCormick in the relatively near future. You don’t draft an offensive lineman in the fourth round without having some hopes for his contributions. With that in mind, the pace of his development could have a ripple effect on the roster, even this year.
While McCormick is a guard, he has practiced at center and many draft analysts agreed that he can play there. As such, he can greatly increase the odds of the Steelers releasing Nate Herbig.
If Herbig loses the starting center job to Zach Frazier, then Herbig already becomes harder to keep at $4 million.