Steelers All 90: James Daniels Leading OL By Example

While the Pittsburgh Steelers have really bolstered the offensive line this offseason, the groundwork of the rebuild started last offseason. Prior to the 2022 season, the Steelers signed James Daniels and Mason Cole and then re-signed Chukwuma Okorafor.

Daniels was a four-year starter in Chicago and signed with the Steelers at the young age of 24, making him the perfect mixture of youthfulness and experience. The Steelers made him the highest-paid outside free agent in the organization’s history but with the qualities that he brought with him, it made sense.

Earlier this offseason, the Steelers signed Isaac Seumalo to become the team’s starting left guard and then they brought in Nate Herbig which rose the question of whether or not the Steelers should trade or bench Daniels.

The answer to that question is that the Steelers will do neither because of a few different reasons. Since Daniels is the team’s right guard, Seumalo’s arrival will not affect him. Daniels is more expensive and has consistently played at a higher level than Herbig at this point in their careers.

Another reason is that Daniels is a leader among the offensive lineman. While he may not be the outspoken guy like Maurkice Pouncey was known to be, he shares similar leadership qualities to David DeCastro, who would lead by example rather than vocally.

If anybody’s job is in jeopardy and the team desperately wants Herbig to start, it is Mason Cole due to Daniels having experience at the center position. He started a handful of games at center in college and has made eight starts at center for the Bears. Daniels has started 65 games in his NFL career with 40 of them coming at left guard, 17 at right guard, and eight at center.

Daniels was the team’s most consistent player along the offensive line in 2022 and it would not make sense for the Steelers to move on from the 25-year-old. In 2022, Pro Football Focus did not credit Daniels with a single sack allowed and recorded only three total quarterback pressures as he played a career-high 1,160 snaps.

Heading into the 2023 season, Daniels remains as the starting right guard and if he stays healthy, he will likely start every game of the season there. Herbig will play as a pinch-in starter and be the team’s top swing guy along the interior of the line. The starting offensive line will include Seumalo, Daniels, Cole, Okorafor, and either Dan Moore Jr. or first-round pick Broderick Jones.

78 • James Daniels, Guard, Iowa
6-foot-4, 327 pounds, 25 years old, 6th Season

Acquired: The Steelers signed Daniels to a three-year, $26.5 million contract last offseason after his contract with the Chicago Bears expired. Daniels played four seasons in Chicago before signing with the Steelers.

Last Year: In his first season in Pittsburgh, Daniels started all 17 games at right guard. He played a career-high 1,160 offensive snaps as he helped block for a rookie quarterback in Kenny Pickett and a 1,000-yard rusher in Najee Harris.

In his 17 games, Daniels did not get credit for allowing a sack and only committed five penalties. For an offensive line that struggled at times, Daniels was one of the bright spots for the group last season.

James Daniels warms up ahead of Steelers vs. Ravens on Jan. 1, 2023, in Baltimore. (Mitchell Northam / Steelers Now)

Career: The Bears drafted Daniels with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Daniels split time at the left guard position but slowly gained the full-time starting role. He appeared in 16 games and started 10 in 2018. In his 10 starts, nine of them were at left guard and one at right guard.

Prior to his second season, Daniels moved to center and then started all 16 games for the Bears in 2019. Midway through the season, Daniels moved back to left guard due to an injury along the offensive line. In 1,069 offensive snaps, Daniels did not allow a single sack and only committed three penalties.

In 2020, Daniels started the first five games of the season at left guard before he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury.

Daniels bounced back in 2021 as he started all 17 games of the season at right guard and played 1,121 offensive snaps. He allowed three sacks and committed nine penalties. Despite the spike in penalties, Daniels earned the highest Pro Football Focus rating of his NFL career as they gave him a 71.8 rating.

After the 2021 season, Daniels’ contract expired and he signed a three-year deal with the Steelers in free agency. Over the first five seasons of Daniels’ career, he has appeared in 71 games and recorded 65 starts. Of his 65 starts, 40 of them were at left guard, 17 at right guard, and eight at center.

College: Daniels decided to commit to the University of Iowa after mulling offers from other prestigious schools such as Alabama, Ohio State, and Auburn. Daniels played immediately for the Hawkeyes as he played in 14 games and notched two starts as a true freshman. In 236 offensive snaps, Daniels only allowed one sack and committed two penalties. While most of his playing time in 2015 came on special teams, he did appear in games at both tackle and guard.

In 2016, Daniels started all 11 games that he played at center. He played 629 offensive snaps and allowed three sacks while committing four penalties. Pro Football Focus gave Daniels an above-average grade of 85.9 for his level of play in 2016. In addition, Daniels was named All-Big Ten Third Team by the conference’s coaches and media.

As a junior, Daniels started all 12 games at center to close out his collegiate career. Daniels earned a career-high 89.4 rating from PFF after the 2017 season. In his career at Iowa, Daniels appeared in 37 games and recorded 25 starts.

Salary cap and future: Daniels is entering the second year of his three-year contract and will cost $11.16 million against the Steelers’ 2023 cap space. Of his $11.16 million cap hit in 2023, $8.25 million is in base salary while $2.91 million is in prorated bonuses.

Daniels is signed with the Steelers through the end of the 2024 season when he will become an unrestricted free agent following that season.

The rest of the 90: