Pittsburgh Steelers' UDFAs to Watch: Centers B.J. Finney and Reese Dismukes

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not address the offensive line once in the 2015 NFL draft. But that does not mean they failed to come away with rookie talent to help boost their line. Five of the 12 undrafted rookies the Steelers brought on immediately following the draft were offensive linemen. Two of them, B.J. Finney and Reese Dismukes, play center.

Though the Steelers have an established center in Maurkice Pouncey, who has reached the Pro Bowl in four of his five seasons and has been named a first-team All-Pro twice (including in 2014), they have but one offensive lineman capable of playing center aside from Pouncey—Cody Wallace.

Reserve guard Chris Hubbard also has the ability to play center but as of yet Hubbard has only appeared on the field sparingly as a guard.

When Pouncey went down in Week 1 of the 2013 season with a season-ending knee injury, it was Wallace who filled in for Pouncey in Weeks 13 through 17. Prior to that, veteran Fernando Velasco served as center. Velasco himself was then placed on injured reserve at the end of November, precipitating Wallace being promoted to starter. Velasco has since moved on in free agency, joining the Carolina Panthers.

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Wallace, who remains on Pittsburgh's current roster, is a valuable piece of offensive line depth. But he may not be the team's first, best choice to take over for Pouncey should another injury befall him.

As a center, particularly as a run-blocker, Wallace did not perform well in 2013. This wouldn't be a concern if Pouncey's injury were a freak occurrence, but 2014 and 2010 are the only seasons in which Pouncey has completed a 16-game season.

While Pouncey's torn ACL and MCL in 2013 have been his most severe injuries to date, having a reserve center capable of playing at a high level as his backup is extremely important for the Steelers moving forward.

Finally, the team has built a line—and a blocking scheme as drawn up by line coach Mike Munchak—that works well together, both in advancing the run game and protecting Ben Roethlisberger. Now, the team must find ways to maintain continuity if one member of the line is lost to injury, whether for one week or for 16 weeks.

Finney and Dismukes are two of 2014's best collegiate centers. Dismukes won the Rimington Award in 2014, given to the NCAA's top center, while Finney was a runner-up. Either would be ideal choices to step in for Pouncey if Pouncey gets hurt again. Both, as well, have the skills to play multiple positions along the line, which would help the Steelers in the longer term.

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Pouncey's job is not in jeopardy, even if both Finney and Dismukes find ways to stay with the Steelers this year, whether on the 53-man roster or on the practice squad. Pouncey is in the second year of a five-year contract worth over $44 million, according to Spotrac, a contract that will give him cap hits of over $10 million in 2016 through 2018.

Either those figures will stand as-is, meaning that the Steelers won't be able to release Pouncey without a significant cap hit, or they will restructure his deal, ensuring that Pouncey will be on the Steelers' roster through the decade. Where Finney and Dismukes would provide the greatest help, in terms of starting potential, is elsewhere on the line.

Starting guard Ramon Foster and left tackle Kelvin Beachum are both free agents next year, as is reserve tackle Mike Adams.

Dismukes and Finney could prove to be more affordable replacements for any of the three, granted that they prove their positional versatility in OTAs, minicamps and training camp this year. Meanwhile, they both can continue to hone their skills at center in preparation for ever having to fill in for Pouncey.

Finney and Dismukes aren't run-of-the-mill undrafted rookie signings. Both players were initially expected to go in the middle rounds of the draft this year. That they didn't isn't a knock on their abilities, but rather it provides insight into teams' needs and the Steelers' savvy ability to find talent among the pool of rookie free agents.

From 2011 through 2013, the Steelers' starting offensive line featured 15 players in 23 different combinations. In 2014, the line finally stabilized, yielding the team's best offensive output in the Roethlisberger era.

But the Steelers cannot take that stability for granted. Injuries can happen at any time, and even if they don't this year, the team is still staring down the possibility of losing two starters on the line in free agency next year.

Thus, the Steelers needed to upgrade their young depth on the line. With Finney and Dismukes, they get more than backup centers—they get talented offensive linemen who could, in a year's time or less, have opportunities to prove their skills at multiple positions and earn a place in the Steelers' starting lineup.