Offensive linemen Trai Essex and Chris Kemoeatu have signed the one-year tenders offered to them recently. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. We've been over it before, Essex and Kemoeatu should provide solid competition to the training camp battles in the trenches, regardless of what direction the Steelers go with Max Starks and in the Draft. Essex, terrible in the running game, is better suited in pass protection, so he might actually surprise a few people if given the chance. I thought he played very well in the playoff game against Jacksonville.
Is Essex the (short-term) answer at Tackle? Photo credit: Steelers.com
Kemoeatu will be in the mix for playing time at a guard spot. The team seems to have faith in him, regardless of how little he's shown in his still-short career. I'd hardly call this a development, as we figured they'd be around when we offered them the one-year tenders in late February. What's not yet clear is whether other teams showed much interest in the two. I suppose that information will eventually become available.