USA today
A busy Monday for the Steelers included signing a veteran offensive lineman. The Steelers plan to sign former Cardinals and Vikings offensive lineman Mason Cole to a three-year contract. according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Cole, drafted 97th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, has been both defensive end and center in his four-year NFL career. He has 39 career starts under his belt, including seven starts in his only season with the Vikings. Cole spent his first three seasons with the Cardinals, where he made 32 starts, including 16 starts at center during his rookie season.
Cole played collegiately at Michigan, where he was a four-year writer and three-time All-Big Ten honoree. Cole, primarily a left tackle in college, made 51 straight starts for the Wolverines, including 13 at center. In 2014, he became the first true freshman in program history to kick off the season opener.
Cole is the second offensive lineman the Steelers reportedly came to terms with during the first day of the NFL legal meddle. Pittsburgh reportedly re-signed offensive veteran Chukwuma Okorafor to a three-year, $29.5 million contract, including a guaranteed $20.5 million. Okorafor re-signed with the Steelers despite reported interest from other clubs.
Pittsburgh’s biggest splash of the day was the news that they had signed former Bears Pro Bowl quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to a two-year contract. Trubisky, who spent the 2021 season as Josh Allen’s understudy for Buffalo, will compete against Mason Rudolph for the Steelers’ starting quarterback spot in the 2022 campaign.