Moving along with part 65 of our 90-part series — assuming the roster does not change before we are complete — which will break down each player of the Steelers current 90-man roster in alphabetical order. This series will encompass many aspects of each players game and their current role with the team. At the end, I’ll give some projected stats as well as their chances to make the 53-man roster.

Let’s dive in on eleven-year veteran:

Maurkice Pouncey

Position: C
Height: 6’ 4”
Weight: 304 lbs
College: Florida
Draft: 1st round 18th Overall in 2010

2019 stats (NCAA)

13 Games played
13 Games started

Contract remaining

Expires in 2022
$7,525,000 salary cap number (3.7% of total cap)
$6,475,000 Dead money
$1,050,000 Savings if cut

Likelihood of making the roster

Lock. Maurkice Pouncey is the anchor of the Steelers offensive line, a veteran leader, and on a contract that is basically uncuttable in 2020 (but he wasn't getting cut anyway). Ben Roethlisberger is also a big fan of his center and probably wouldn’t be very happy if anything were to happen to him. The Steelers offensive line will remain mostly intact in 2020.

2020 projection

I expect Maurkice Pouncey to start in every game, health depending, but I think 2019 might be the last of his Pro Bowl years. Although, Steelers fans do love our offensive linemen and could get Pouncey into his 9th Pro Bowl. I also think Pouncey will clean up some of his errant snaps that became a bit of a problem in 2019. Having Ben Roethlisberger back there taking snaps also helps as the duo has well over ten years of chemistry with one another.

Projected stats:

16 Games started
16 Games played

Summary

I think the Steelers offensive line will be better than it was in 2019. Opponents will be less likely to stack the box with Roethlisberger back at the helm. The Steelers are also not playing the same level of defensive line talent in 2020 that they did in 2019. Those two factors combined, I think the Steelers offensive line will again be recognized as one of footballs best units. Maurkice Pouncey is getting older but he has shown week in and week out that he is still a capable veteran.

Previously Highlighted

Ola Adeniyi
Marcus Allen
Tyson Alualu
Trajan Bandy
Zach Banner
J.T. Barrett
John Battle
Jordan Berry
Saeed Blacknall
Breon Borders
Chris Boswell
Antoine Brooks Jr.
Isaiah Buggs
Devin Bush
Deon Cain
Kam Canaday
Chase Claypool
Josiah Coatney
James Conner
Anthony Coyle
Jordan Dangerfield
Amara Darboh
Carlos Davis
David DeCastro
Christian DiLauro
Kevin Dotson
Bud Dupree
Eric Ebron
Terrell Edmunds
Trey Edmunds
Matt Feiler
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Zach Gentry
Ulysees Gilbert III
Derwin Gray
Joe Haden
J.C. Hassenauer
Quadree Henderson
Dewayne Hendrix
Cam Heyward
Alex Highsmith
Mike Hilton
Devlin Hodges
John Houston
Anthony Johnson
Diontae Johnson
Jarron Jones
John Keenoy
Tyree Kinnel
Christian Kuntz
Justin Layne
Leo Lewis
James Lockhart
Paxton Lynch
Dan McCullers
Vance McDonald
Anthony McFarland Jr.
Henry Mondeaux
Christian Montano
Alexander Myres
Steven Nelson
Spencer Nigh
Chuks Okorafor
James Pierre