Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers Players Going Into the 2026-27 NFL Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a strange position at the moment. They're not good enough to contend for a Super Bowl, but they're not bad enough to tank for top draft picks. They have been stuck on the mediocrity wheel for years, winning just enough games to maybe sneak into the playoffs, only to get beaten down by a real team.

This year, though, it's the end of an era. Mike Tomlin stepped down, and in his place, they hired Mike McCarthy. I feel like the only way this team will really improve long term is if they hit the reset button and tank, even though they will never do that.

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

Much like his older brother, J.J. Watt, was at his best, T.J. Watt is one of the most dominant defensive players in the entire league. He's a generational pass rusher and a true game-wrecker. Don't believe me? Just watch any game where T.J. Watt is not playing. There's a noticeable difference in the Steelers' entire defense.
T.J. hasn't quite been on the same level as he was in 2023, but he's still very good. He has led the league in forced fumbles twice, is the second-fastest player to reach 100 career sacks, has made 8 Pro Bowls, and has earned 2 Second-Team All-Pro and 4 First-Team All-Pro selections. He very well could be in 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

Cameron Heyward has been excellent, even at 37 years old. He's basically aged like fine wine. He finished 2025 with 78 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors. PFF named him the top interior defensive lineman from 2025, with a 90.4 overall grade.
Honestly, I'm not sure when he'll retire, but it's probably coming up soon. He's been a true leader for the Steelers' defense for a very long time. Regardless of when he decides to retire, his career accolades speak for themselves. He has a case to be Hall of Fame-bound at the end of the day.
Zach Frazier

Frazier has quickly and quietly become one of the best centers in the NFL. He's emerged as an anchor on the offensive line. He excels at both run blocking and pass protection. Allowing only 2 sacks and committing 8 penalties on over 2,000 offensive snaps since 2024 is pretty good.
PFF has him as a top-10 center in the league. He could potentially be the No. 2 center in the entire league behind Creed Humphrey, honestly.
Alex Highsmith

Alex Highsmith has been a very solid and productive edge rusher for the Steelers. In 2025, he finished with 50 tackles, 36 solo tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 15 tackles for loss. He only played 13 games in 2025.
That seems to be a recurring theme for Highsmith. He misses a handful of games every year, and he was missed last year for sure. It's honestly his biggest flaw. I feel like that's why there were trade rumors circulating around him this offseason.
Joey Porter Jr

Joey Porter Jr. has so far been a decent cornerback in the league. In three years, he's shown steady improvement. At times, he can be a total shutdown cornerback and has elite man-coverage skills.
He was quietly one of the toughest cornerbacks to throw against in the league last year. He's not a household name quite yet, but he's borderline top 10 in the league, and many people think he's a future All-Pro. Like Nick Herbig, keep an eye on him.
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

It's surreal to think this is the last season we'll see Aaron Rodgers play. Obviously, the mobility is gone. Obviously, he is past his prime. However, at the end of the day, he still has incredible decision-making skills and a high football IQ. At his best, he is above average, which is exactly what the Steelers need from him.
He still had over 3,300 yards in 2025, with 24 touchdowns, only 7 interceptions, and a 94.8 passer rating, his highest since he was still in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers obviously has a very decorated career. He won a ring, made 10 Pro Bowls, earned multiple First-Team All-Pro selections, and won multiple league MVP awards. There's no doubt in my mind he'll end up in the Hall of Fame someday.
DK Metcalf

DK Metcalf is okay. He's clearly the Steelers' top wide receiver, but I don't know if he's even a true WR1 or just a high-end WR2. He had 850 yards and 6 touchdowns. He's starting-caliber, but he's kind of overrated, honestly.
He has good speed and size but hasn't really had that breakout year. Still, though, he elevates the Steelers' offense.
Jamel Dean

On paper, Jamel Dean is really good and one of the top cornerbacks in the league. He was on the Bucs' Super Bowl-winning roster from a couple of years ago. He's generally a decent starting-caliber cornerback but misses games here and there.
He had a career-high 3 interceptions, leading the Bucs last year. He can be a lockdown corner too, allowing just a 46.9 passer rating, which was the best in the league. PFF gave him an 80.6 overall grade, ranking him third-best among corners. There are some slight durability concerns, but when he's healthy, there is no denying that he is really good.
Jaylen Warren

Jaylen Warren has quickly made strides in improving his game since his rookie season. He finally had his breakout season in 2025, with 958 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. He also scored 2 receiving touchdowns. His stats all rank in the top 20 across the league, and I only expect his numbers to improve in 2026-27.
PFF gave him an 81.4 overall grade, ranking him 10th among all running backs in the league. I'm interested to see what his 2026 season looks like. He may also be splitting the workload with Rico Dowdle. Overall, I think he has upside that still remains to be seen.
Nick Herbig

Herbig is a young linebacker who has primarily been in rotational roles so far in his career, with Highsmith and Watt in front of him. However, he's shown his potential when he gets the chance.
He played in 15 games and started 6 of them in 2025. He had 7.5 sacks, 30 total tackles, and recorded an interception that he returned for 41 yards. The Steelers recently gave him a four-year, $100 million extension, signaling that they believe in Herbig long-term. Honestly, keep an eye on this guy because he may just be the next superstar.