Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source
Steelers re-sign starting right tackle Matt Feiler | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

Steelers re-sign starting right tackle Matt Feiler

Chris Adamski
955259_web1_gtr-steelers13-081518
Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Steelers offensive lineman Matt Feiler practices Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe. Steelers offensive lineman Matt Feiler during practice Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe.

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.

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.

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.

Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Get Ad-Free >

Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL
Sports and Partner News