Center Zach Frazier, one of three rookies to make significant contributions to the Pittsburgh Steelers this past season, was named to the all-NFL rookie team Tuesday by the Professional Football Writers of America.
Frazier, the team’s second-round pick from West Virginia, started 15 of 17 games last season. He was the only Steelers rookie named to the list. Guard Mason McCormick and inside linebacker Payton Wilson also had strong first seasons with the Steelers but were not recognized by the PFWA.
Frazier was expected to begin the season on the bench and learn behind veteran Nate Herbig, but he was thrust into a starting role when Herbig suffered a torn rotator cuff in training camp. Frazier missed two games in October because of a high ankle sprain but did not skip a beat once he returned to the lineup.
It is the second year in a row a Steelers player made the PFWA’s all-rookie list. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was honored last season.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was named NFL rookie of the year by PFWA, and Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Jared Verse was named the PFWA’s defensive rookie of the year. He led rookies in quarterback hits, pressures and hurries.
Note: The Steelers signed cornerback Cameron McCutcheon to a reserve/futures contract Tuesday. A former undrafted free agent from Gardner-Webb and Western Carolina, McCutcheon was with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. He had a tryout with the Steelers in September.
