Steelers All 90: RT Zach Banner
All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2021 offseason roster.
72 • Zach Banner, fifth-year offensive tackle
6-foot-8, 335 pounds
Acquired: Signed as a street free agent on Aug. 12, 2018. Re-signed with the Steelers in 2020 and 2021.
Last season: Beat out Chukwuma Okorafor in a training camp battle to win the starting right tackle job, but suffered an ACL injury in the season opener against the New York Giants and missed the rest of the season. He had surgery in mid-September.
Career: Played in 14 games in 2019 as the Steelers’ top backup at tackle and jumbo tight end, becoming a fan favorite for his number being announced as eligible.
Drafted in the fourth round by Indianapolis in 2017, Banner was cut by the Colts before the start of his rookie season. He was claimed on waivers by the Cleveland Browns and played in eight games in 2017.
Cleveland waived him in March 2018, Banner was claimed by the Carolina Panthers but waived once again before training camp.
College: Made 37 starts, playing both left and right tackle at USC after redshirting as a true freshman and missing 2013 after hip surgery. Banner was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection and an All-American as a senior.
Camp outlook: Banner was not a full participant in the team’s minicamp last week, but is expected to be back to full health by training camp.
With Alejandro Villanueva moving on in free agency, Okorafor is moving to left tackle, leaving Banner without much of any competition for the right tackle spot.
Future: Is set to earn $6.625 million in the second year of his contract in 2022.
The rest of the 90:
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