Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers Players Going Into the 2025-26 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a bizarre team to try and gauge. Mike Tomlin somehow gets this team to at least nine wins year after year. I'm impressed by how long he's kept the streak alive.

This year, they'll have their work cut out for them, I'm afraid. You'd need average play out of Aaron Rodgers at bare minimum. I'm just not convinced how this team can win nine games.

They have a strong defense, but they have had a weak offense for a long time now. Let's see what happens, but don't be surprised if they don't win nine games this year. It honestly might be for the best that they have a down year and can properly revamp and clean house from scratch.

The Top Ten

T.J. Watt

Trent Jordan Watt (born October 11, 1994) is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers. After redshirting his freshman year, Watt suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for his... read more

TJ Watt has been nothing short of elite in the NFL since he stepped onto an NFL field. He's elite as a pass rusher and run defender and has a remarkably high football IQ, which truly sets him apart.
He has the awards and recognition to his name, including 7 straight Pro Bowls, 4 First Team All-Pros, a Second Team All-Pro, and he was Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. He had 11.5 sacks in 2024, 61 combined tackles, 40 solo tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 27 quarterback hits. TJ Watt is set to be the cornerstone of the Steelers' defense for years to come and is well on his way to the Hall of Fame someday.
Cameron Heyward

Cameron Phillips Heyward is an American football defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He played college football at Ohio State University and was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Heyward has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls and... read more

Heyward has been a very good defensive tackle for years. When he's healthy, he's arguably one of the best in the league. PFF gave him a 90.3 overall grade in 2024, ranking first in the entire league even at 35.
He finished the season with 8 sacks and 71 combined tackles, 35 solo tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback hits. He was named First Team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl as well. He's been consistently elite at both pass rush and run defense and has been a true leader for the Steelers as a whole.
DK Metcalf

DK is an interesting George Pickens replacement with great all-around speed, athleticism, and strength. He's a solid playmaker who can consistently produce. He has made 2 Pro Bowls in his career so far and will be the Steelers' wide receiver 1.
Last season, he finished with 992 yards and 5 touchdowns, which is a step down production-wise. Metcalf has had at least 900 yards every season in the pros, so he's consistent and productive. I think it was becoming clear that Seattle was favoring JSN as their top wide receiver. Now in Pittsburgh, DK will be the guaranteed top target.
Minkah Fitzpatrick

Minkah Fitzpatrick has been amongst the best safeties in the league for years now. Ever since being traded from Miami, he's been a stud.
Minkah has been pretty consistent as a Steeler, being named to multiple Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams. He's also very versatile. Sure, his stats have sort of declined recently, but there's no denying he's still a valuable asset to the Steelers' defense.
Chris Boswell

Chris Boswell has been a reliable, accurate kicker in the NFL. A multi-time Pro Bowler and coming off a First Team All-Pro season in 2024, Boswell has been especially remarkable from beyond 50 yards.
He was 41/44 on field goal attempts, or a 93% make rate. He was a perfect 35/35 on extra points this past season. PFF named him the 2nd highest graded kicker of 2024 with a 92.3 overall mark. He has certainly proven he is a top 5 kicker in the NFL right now.
Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth has been a solid, reliable tight end in the NFL for a few seasons now. Honestly, I think he's one of the more underrated tight ends in the league.
He finished the year with 653 yards and 7 touchdowns - overall his best season so far. Feels like he doesn't get talked about enough. He's a red zone threat and more often than not has been the Steelers' most reliable target. Great hands and good route running skills.
Alex Highsmith

Alex Highsmith is a generally solid and productive pass rusher for the Steelers. He's no TJ Watt by any stretch, but he's still a valuable asset to the defense who can make high-impact plays.
He finished the 2024 season with 6 sacks and 45 combined tackles, 28 solo tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits in just 11 games played.
Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He signed a one‑year deal with Pittsburgh in March 2025 after being released by the New York Jets. Rodgers is a four‑time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XLV champion... read more

Aaron Rodgers is an interesting case. He has a very decorated career with plenty of accomplishments and will likely make it to the Hall of Fame one day. He's a 4-time League MVP and has a Super Bowl ring on top of multiple First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
The problem is he's washed. At least on the Jets, he looked like toast. Whether you decide to blame his play on the injury or not, it's undeniable that he's way past his prime and likely won't be in the league much longer. I have to imagine he's done after this season. I don't think he's worth all the drama and unnecessary headaches he brings with him. I doubt his performance this season will be anything to write home about. If anything, he'll probably go out sad considering the state of this team right now.
Patrick Queen

Patrick Queen has been a mixed bag overall for the Steelers. I'd say he still has some untapped potential. He's been largely decent overall.
Despite a slow start in Pittsburgh, he made a Pro Bowl in 2024 for what it's worth. The fanbase may disagree, but I think he's been okay. Arguably the best inside linebacker they've had since Shazier, anyway. I think you can give him the benefit of the doubt for now, considering it was his first year in a new system.
Jaylen Warren

Warren is a young running back who has made the most of the opportunities he's gotten so far. He's proven he can be reliable, effective, and explosive when given the chance.
He finished with 511 yards and 1 touchdown. While not as productive as his 2023 campaign, he has an opportunity to emerge as the top running back for the Steelers this year with Najee Harris out of the picture.