Steelers Now
With the Pittsburgh Steelers set to kick off their OTA’s in a couple days, most of their roster (aside from the quarterback) is set in place. This is an organization in the midst of a transition year, but with playoff hopes still intact. With that in mind, it’s worth taking a look at the strongest parts of the entire operation and which players will be depended on the most if the team is successful in maximizing their potential.
One exercise that I like to do each year is rank the Steelers top ten players entering the season, taking into account what transpired last fall and projecting how these guys will build on that moving forward. Who rose up the rankings? Which players slid down just a tad? This year featured a couple youngsters that vaulted their way onto their list with impressive stretches last season. Without further ado, here we go!
2024 Ranking: NR
The combination of impressive efficiency metrics and high-end flashes is enough to warrant Herbig’s inclusion on this list despite not being a full-time starter. In his second season, he led the team in pressure rate at 17.6%, with half of his hurries coming in three seconds or less. The lightning-quick get-off, blurry change of direction, and natural bend make for tantalizing upside as he continues to improve in the run defense department.
T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig with insta-wins on the same rep.
#90 with his (old) signature cross-chop-rip move to soften the corner
#51 with a blurry speed-rip inside to force a hold pic.twitter.com/xQqx2KhPXq
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) May 21, 2025
2024 Ranking: NR
Even while operating within what was a highly volatile passing attack, Freiermuth ranked fourth among qualifying tight ends in EPA/target (.37) last season. Good things typically happen for the Steelers offense when the Penn State product is involved, but lackluster quarterback play has been to his detriment. So long as his blocking continues to improve, his contract should be viewed as a solid investment.
2024 Ranking: 5th
Since being thrust into the starting lineup, Porter’s been given the often daunting task of shadowing the opposing team’s best player on an island. His ability to press at the line of scrimmage and use his length to constrict space along the boundary is a real calling card for him as a man coverage specialist. His physical brand of football has resulted in him being the NFL’s most penalized defender, drawing 15 flags in 2024, but there’s significant potential present.
2024 Ranking: 3rd
Unfortunately, Highsmith was bitten by the injury bug in 2024, but his 16.0% pressure rate showcases his pass rushing prowess. It’s fair to say that he’s due for some positive sack regression and his ability to drop in coverage remains underrated. At this point, he’s probably maxed out as a strong sidekick pass rusher,...
