For the time being, Matt Feiler finds himself atop the Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart at right tackle.
Feiler signed his one-year exclusive-rights tender Friday. Feiler, who almost certainly will be making the league minimum for a player entering his third accrued NFL season ($645,000), started 10 games last season after the injury to Marcus Gilbert.
After Gilbert’s trade to the Arizona Cardinals earlier this month, Feiler enters spring workouts in a competition with Chuks Okorafor, Jerald Hawkins and perhaps Zach Banner for the starting right tackle spot in 2019.
Steelers right tackle Matt Feiler signed his exclusive rights free agent tender today, per sources. Feiler plans to work out at the team facility and is focused on winning the starting RT job. He’ll compete with Chuks Okorafor and Jerald Hawkins.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 29, 2019
Feiler spent 2014 on the Houston Texans practice squad as a rookie undrafted free agent from Division II Bloomsburg. He has been with the Steelers since September 2015, holding a spot on their practice squad the first two years until he made the 53-man roster in 2017.
Feiler played in five games that season, starting the meaningless season finale against Cleveland before opportunity struck because of Gilbert’s nagging knee injury last season.
Affectionately called “The Anchor” my teammates, the 6-foot-6, 330-pound Feiler was graded as above average last season by Pro Football Focus. According to PFF, Feiler allowed three sacks and 26 pressures in 457 pass-blocking snaps last season.
Exclusive rights free agents — mostly undrafted players before reaching three years of active-roster service time — have no leverage in contract negotiations. Feiler will be a restricted free agent after next season and is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency in 2021.
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