Two Steelers Defenders Ranked NFL’s Best At Certain Skill

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has been inconsistent at best during the 2025 campaign.

ESPN NFL writer Matt Bowen said two Steelers defenders have been the best in the league at a certain skill this season, however.

Bowen listed the “best NFL players at 109 different skills” and argued that linebacker T.J. Watt has the “best hand usage,” while fellow linebacker Nick Herbig has the “best motor.”

“Watt’s hand usage is tied to his footwork, creating opportunities to slip blockers off the edge. He has seven sacks this season, and a total of 37.5 over his past three,” the 49-year-old former NFL defensive back wrote. “Herbig uses his relentless rush style to make plays late in the down. And the effort level pops on the tape. He has six sacks, with a 28.7% pass rush win rate that tops the league.”

Watt is having another huge season, entering Week 14 with a team-high 17 quarterback hits and 7.0 sacks.

Herbig has been a standout as well and despite missing one game this year, he leads the Pittsburgh in tackles for loss (12) and is tied with Watt for the team lead in forced fumbles (three).

For the Steelers offense, despite his struggles over the last month, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was chosen by Bowen as the signal-caller with the “quickest throw release.”

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