Three Steelers Defensive Stars Crack Top-100 List With Training Camp Approaching

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been busy this offseason.

With new offensive additions like quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, along with a star-studded defense headlined by T.J. Watt, the Steelers have high hopes heading into the new season following a first-round playoff exit after a 10-7 regular season last year. 

Pro Football Network released their NFL top-100 list on Monday, with Pittsburgh having three players from their star-studded defense in the top-100. 

Coming in at No. 98 in the 14th year of his career, Cameron Heyward was the first Steeler on the list. Heyward was injured early on last season and missed six games. As Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson noted, “However, when healthy, the 35-year-old is still an effective pass rusher and stout against the run. Heyward totaled 20.5 sacks from 2021 to 2022 and has earned four All-Pro nods since 2017.”

Heyward found his groove later in the season and looked like his old self, which is a great sign for the upcoming campaign and bad news for opposing offensive linemen. 

Next on the list was Minkah Fitzpatrick at No. 57. Fitzpatrick earned first-team All-Pro in 2022, but only appeared in 10 games in 2023 due to injuries. “Provided Fitzpatrick stays healthy next year, the 27-year-old should return to his elite level of play,” Robinson said. “He has a nose for the football, but his coverage consistency is that of an elite free safety. Fitzpatrick boasts the length, range, and trigger to cover serious ground on the back end, and he’s not afraid to come forward and hit, either.”

T.J. Watt cracked the top 10 at No. 8: “One of the NFL’s most dependable players, T.J. Watt led the league in sacks in 2020, 2021, and 2023, only failing in 2022 while missing seven games due to an injury,” Robinson said. “He took home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021 after posting 22.5 sacks to tie Michael Strahan’s single-season record. A constant, unceasing threat from the edge, Watt is the most talented player on a star-studded Pittsburgh Steelers defense.”

Watt made history as the first player to lead the NFL in sacks in three different seasons. With a bonafide superstar like that headlining the defense, the Steelers seem prepared to make a deep run this season.

Pittsburgh should be in good shape in 2024 and the defense certainly will be a major reason why.

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