Welcome to the terrible take, a daily segment telling Steelers nation what's on our minds.

I'm Alexa Delaraco. The 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers defense is loaded with veteran leadership. From

Cam Hayward to T.J. Watt to Mink of Fitzpatrick and Patrick Peterson. I have no

doubts at all that the Steelers defense has veteran players to turn to

for leadership in critical situations like third down Red Zone in the fourth

quarter.

The question for me is, who is the veteran leader on offense for the Steelers?

Personally, for me, I believe it's clear to be one player who should be nicknamed the

protector and that's Steelers right guard James Daniels. Per pro football focus

Daniels played the sixth most snaps in the NFL at Guard in 2022, 1,160 snaps total,

and allowed an astonishing zero sacks.

It doesn't stop there.

Go back to Kenny Pickett's first start in the NFL against the Buffalo Bills.

Late in the third quarter, Pickett

scrambled for a first down and took a vicious hit

by Buffalo Bills Safety to Mar Hamlin.

Who was the first player to rush to Kenny Pickett's defense along the Bill's

sideline? James Daniels threw De Mar Hamlin to the ground in defense of his

quarterback.

Entering his six NFL season, Daniels, who's a former second-round pick,

has solidified himself as a leader,

not just on that Steelers offensive line, but on the entire offense.

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