Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt came in at No. 10 on Pro Football Focus’ annual top 50 players in the NFL list. Watt was the fourth-highest ranked defensive player, behind Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons (No. 7), Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (No. 6) and Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, who was ranked No. 1.
“Watt’s rare consistency and game-changing versatility make him one of the NFL’s elite defenders. In 2024, he earned a 92.3 PFF grade — second only to Myles Garrett among players with 300-plus snaps — and was the league’s only defensive lineman to post 90.0-plus grades in both pass rushing and run defense,” Dalton Wasserman and Trevor Sikkema of PFF wrote. “Since 2019, Watt ranks as the second-most valuable edge defender, per PFF WAR. As the heartbeat of Pittsburgh’s defense, he shows no signs of slowing down heading into 2025.”
T.J. Watt last season:
🟡 90.3 run defense grade (1st)
⚫ 90.1 pass rush grade (4th)The only edge rusher with a 90+ grade in both categories
The No. 10 player and No. 3 EDGE on the PFF50 pic.twitter.com/lcNlj5e5XS
— PFF (@PFF) July 18, 2025
On Thursday, Watt become the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history for the second time in his Hall of Fame career, reaching agreement on a three-year, $123 million extension that includes $108 million fully guaranteed at signing, according to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Watt, who will average $41 million per year, once again tops Garrett as the highest-paid non-QB. Garrett was just made the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history earlier this offseason.
No player has recorded more sacks over the last five seasons than Watt, who has 73.5 during that span. In one-score games since 2021, T.J. Watt ranks first in sacks (43), forced fumbles (12) and batted passes (14), according to PFF.
Outside of their respective teams not liking each other, Watt and Garrett also have a heated rivalry. Watt believes he was robbed from an NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2023, which did not sit well with Garrett. The Browns’ All-Pro edge rusher called out Watt after the Browns’ Week 12 win last season.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for [Watt], a lot of respect for all of the guys over there… but I’m No. 1,” Garrett said. “That’s from edge No. 1 to Defensive Player of the Year. I’m the guy. That runs through me. There’s no other person being defended as I am or schemed or planned against like I am.”
In ESPN’s annual survey that includes voting from league executives, coaches and scouts to help rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, Garrett once again ranked ahead of T.J. Watt at the edge rusher position. Watt has better numbers than Garrett in almost every major defensive statistical category, however.
“Watt is a worthy rival to Garrett in the AFC North. His 108 career...
