Zach Frazier

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

This Zach Frazier deal earns a solid B- CVI as a smart developmental investment that slightly exceeds typical depth piece compensation but carries minimal downside risk. At $1.9M annually, the Steelers are paying above-market rates for what projects as a depth piece center, though the modest AAV keeps this firmly in "reasonable gamble" territory rather than problematic overspend. As a young player on his rookie trajectory, Frazier has legitimate upside to outgrow this tier and potentially develop into a quality starter, making the slight premium defensible given the position's importance in Pittsburgh's offensive system. The contract structure heavily favors the team with $5.0M guaranteed across four years, creating an easy exit ramp if he doesn't progress while locking in cost control if he does develop. The Steelers essentially bought themselves an affordable lottery ticket on a center with starter upside, and even if Frazier plateaus as organizational depth, the financial commitment won't handcuff their roster construction moving forward.

Performance Analysis

Zach Frazier's F grade in Pittsburgh is a puzzling result for a rookie center who was considered one of the better center prospects in his draft class. Frazier was impressive at West Virginia with his combination of intelligence and physicality. The F grade likely reflects data limitations with interior linemen rather than actual poor performance. The Steelers drafted Frazier to be their center of the future, and the early returns have been solid enough to justify that investment. His technique, leadership, and snap consistency have been encouraging for a first-year player. This grade doesn't match the reality of his contributions.