Summary

Mason McCormick was selected in the 4th Round (#119 Overall) in the 2024 Draft out of South Dakota State University. McCormick brings size, durability, collegiate success and early NFL experience to the guard position. His main strengths lie in his physical readiness, consistency, and adaptability. His main developmental needs revolve around maximizing his technique, refining his pass‑ and run‑blocking efficiency, and proving that his collegiate performance against FCS competition translates fully at the NFL level. In short, he’s a promising interior lineman with a solid foundation and real upside.

Strengths

• Durability & consistency: McCormick started 57 consecutive games to end his college career, showing his reliability. Transitioned into the NFL with significant playing time: in his rookie season he played 17 games with 14 starts. Pittsburgh Steelers

• Physical tools & frame: At 6′5″ and 315 lbs with ample size for the interior line, McCormick has an NFL‑ready build. Competent athleticism for a guard: movement, strength and stamina to hold up through many snaps. Pittsburgh Steelers

• Collegiate production & winning pedigree: Helped his college team win back‑to‑back national championships, showing that he knows how to be part of a winning offensive line unit. His college accolades (All‑American, conference honors) reflect strong performance against his peers.

• Early NFL experience and trust from coaching staff: Being inserted into starting line relatively early suggests the Steelers saw his readiness and valued him. Pittsburgh Steelers

Weaknesses

• Level of competition & polish: McCormick played at the FCS level (South Dakota State), which means he faced fewer elite interior defensive linemen than those at major FBS programs. This can raise questions about how his performance translates to NFL‑level competition. While his physical tools are strong, some technique areas might still be developing (hands timing, pad level, etc.) given his background.

• Pass‑block / run‑block split and overall grading: While he’s performing, there’s a gap between him and top‑tier guards in terms of efficiency and premium performance when it comes to run block and pass block win rates.

• Adjustment to NFL speed & power: Transitioning from FCS to NFL means a jump in defender athleticism, speed and strength; McCormick will need to refine quickness of reaction, anchoring against stronger rushers, and overall technique under NFL constraints. Occasional injuries or physical wear are possible given heavy snap counts and the physical nature of interior line play.

• Ceiling and developmental timeline: While he shows starter capability, he may need time to reach elite guard status. His current floor appears solid, but his ceiling may depend heavily on continued refinement of technique, strength gains, and consistency at NFL pace.

Fit & Outlook

McCormick projects as a reliable starting guard for the Steelers, with the potential to grow into a more significant interior lineman role over time. His best short‑term role is to serve as a regular starter or key contributor on the interior offensive line, especially in run‑heavy or balanced offensive schemes. McCormick needs to continue to build strength, technique and adapt to NFL defenders; this will help raise his pass‑proficiency and run‑block dominance. Long‑term, if he develops fully, he could elevate into a very good-to‑above‑average guard in the league, especially if the coaching staff hones his technique and leverages his durability and physical base. If he doesn’t sharpen his weaker areas, he nonetheless seems to have the traits and early experience for a long and productive NFL career as a solid starter.