Steelers Now
Two Pittsburgh Steelers made Pete Prisco of CBS Sports’ annual Top-100 Players list. To no surprise, longtime defensive tackle Cam Heyward and outside linebacker T.J. Watt made the list. They’ve both been perennial All-Pro and Pro Bowl players.
Watt took a big dip in the rankings, however, after a down campaign in 2025. He went from 11th on the top-100 list to No. 88.
“His production has dipped since he recorded 19 sacks in 2023,” Prisco wrote. “He had just 7 last season as he battled injuries, limiting him to 14 games.”
Watt revealed at OTAs that he’ll move around more in Patrick Graham’s defense. Watt typically only lined up at the left outside linebacker position. Perhaps the change will get Watt back on track.
The All-Pro outside linebacker also suffered a partially collapsed lung in December last season after a needle inadvertently punctured his lung during a dry needling session at the team facility. Watt missed three games because of the freak accident.
“A lot of us are interchangeable partners,” Watt said. “You’re not just learning your position. You kind of have to learn the whole defensive front structure because we all are basically interchangeable.”
Watt admitted he was hard-headed when it came to moving around the defense.
”I think in the past, it was a little bit more about me being stubborn,” Watt said. “I think this new system allows [more of that, because] a lot of it is built in, so I really can’t say no. I have to move with it. A lot of us are interchangeable parts. You’re not just learning your position, you kind of have to learn the whole defensive front structure because we all are basically interchangeable. We can do different things, so I think you’re going to see a lot more movement of not just me, but the whole front.”
Heyward came in at No. 39 on Prisco’s top-100 list, dropping two spots from last year. The 37-year-old is heading into his 16th NFL season, but he’s shown no signs of slowing down.
“Age isn’t slowing down this 37-year-old interior defender,” Prisco wrote. “He had one of his best seasons in 2025. He is a force against the run and as a pass rusher.”
Heyward needs no endorsement at this point of his career. However, anything to build upon his resume for the Pro Football Hall of Fame will help, and one current member sees a Gold Jacket in Heyward’s future.
Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter believes Heyward is cut from the same cloth as Steelers legendary defensive tackle Mean Joe Greene.
“He’s still playing at an All-Pro level,” Carter said on his Fully Loaded Podcast. “He’s vitally important in the community, he’s vitally important in the locker room, he’s vitally important in the front office, he’s vitally important as far as the Steelers and their legacy. He’s not mean Joe Greene, but he is the next best thing to Mean Joe Greene, and playing for the Steelers.”
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