Steelers Now
There may not be a bigger breakout candidate on Pittsburgh’s defense than Payton Wilson.
The former third-round pick has never lacked talent. Dating back to his days at NC State, Wilson’s elite athleticism has always stood out, highlighted by a 4.43-second 40-yard dash that still shows up every Sunday. His range, closing speed, and physicality helped him pile up 123 tackles in his first fully healthy season, but it still felt like there was another level he never quite reached.
That’s what makes Year 3 so intriguing.
Wilson’s versatile skill set appears to fit naturally into what Patrick Graham wants to do defensively. Whether it’s playing downhill against the run, covering in space, or blitzing off the edge, he has the athletic profile to become the centerpiece of the defense. The Steelers also showed plenty of confidence in him this offseason by standing pat at inside linebacker rather than bringing in significant competition.
The potential has always been there. If Wilson can become more consistent on a week-to-week basis, he has a legitimate chance to emerge as one of the AFC’s better young linebackers while putting himself in line for a contract extension next offseason.
Derrick Harmon‘s rookie season never truly had the chance to get off the ground.
Injuries limited his availability, but whenever he was on the field, there were encouraging signs. Pittsburgh’s run defense consistently looked more physical with Harmon in the lineup, and his combination of size, strength, and power flashed despite the limited sample size.
It’s not uncommon for defensive linemen to make their biggest jump between Years 1 and 2, and Harmon finds himself in a position to do exactly that. With a healthy offseason and a better understanding of the speed of the NFL game, he should be in line for a much larger role.
If he can stay healthy, Harmon has all the tools to establish himself as a long-term building block along the Steelers’ defensive front.
Unlike the other two players on this list, Mason McCormick has already established himself as a starter. Now the challenge becomes taking the next step.
With Isaac Seumalo no longer on the roster, McCormick enters his third season as one of the leaders of Pittsburgh’s young offensive line. The Steelers could also move him between both guard spots throughout the season, giving him valuable experience while increasing the flexibility of the unit.
His development could be one of the biggest keys to the success of Mike McCarthy’s offense.
McCarthy’s West Coast system is built on timing, rhythm, and spacing, but none of that works without a physical offensive line capable of establishing the run game first. McCormick, alongside Zach Frazier, has an opportunity to become one of the cornerstones of that group for years to come.
If he continues building on what he showed last season, the Steelers may have found another long-term answer in the trenches.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Three Steelers Primed for Breakout Seasons in 2026
