Pittsburgh’s pass rush is arguably the most fearsome defensive unit in the NFL. Not only do they have elite talents like T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward, but they also bring considerable depth. The Steelers retained five defensive linemen who rushed the passer at least 200 times last season and earned at least a 76.8 PFF pass-rush grade.
Pittsburgh’s young offensive tackles will face heavy scrutiny this season as they are tasked with protecting their 41-year-old quarterback. Broderick Jones is slated to move to left tackle after earning sub-60.0 PFF overall grades on the right side in each of his first two seasons. Second-year man Troy Fautanu played just one game last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He’s projected to start at right tackle, where he has logged fewer than 100 snaps across his college and NFL careers.
Rodgers faced plenty of turmoil during his short time in New York but still has some production left in his right arm. In the aggregate, he performed at a roughly league-average level. However, he became more conservative than ever, as his 7.3-yard average depth of target was his lowest in any season as a starter. Rodgers is still effective at reading defenses and moving the chains, but his age and recent injuries have sapped his mobility and he doesn’t threaten defenses vertically like he used to.
Offensive Player: WR D.K. Metcalf
Fresh off a trade from Seattle and a massive contract extension, Metcalf is the clear top receiving option in Pittsburgh’s offense. His 74.6 PFF receiving grade last season was his lowest since 2019, but he is still one of the premier deep threats in the NFL. He was one of just five qualified wide receivers to earn a perfect 99.9 deep PFF receiving grade last season. Ironically, one of the others was George Pickens, whom the Steelers shipped to Dallas after acquiring Metcalf, so Arthur Smith should have a good idea of how to utilize Metcalf.
Defensive Player: EDGE T.J. Watt
Watt proved once again last season why he is one of the best defensive players in the NFL and is on his way to Canton after he retires. His 91.7 PFF overall grade ranked behind only Myles Garrett among edge defenders who played at least 300 snaps. While his pass-rush metrics lagged slightly behind Garrett’s, Watt made up for that by posting a league-leading 90.3 PFF run-defense grade. He also led all defensive players with six forced fumbles.
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Rookie to Watch: DI Derrick Harmon
As if the Steelers needed any more defensive line depth, they decided to select standout defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in the first round of this year’s draft. In his lone year at Oregon, Harmon led all defensive tackles with 55 pressures while ranking 10th in the nation with an 84.6 PFF overall grade. Even if he’s in an early rotational role, Harmon should be another productive pass rusher in an already stacked group.
Fantasy Spotlight: RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Warren has been a borderline fantasy starter when healthy for the past two seasons and is projected to continue in that role for the 2025 season. His fantasy upside is increased by the possibility of maintaining a significant role over new competition, Kaleb Johnson, primarily in the passing game and potentially in the run game.
However, there’s also the risk that he could lose playing time if Johnson outperforms the previous competition, Najee Harris. This leaves Warren’s fantasy value somewhat volatile and dependent on how the competition plays out.
Best Bet: WR D.K. Metcalf to go over 1,000 receiving yards (+120)
After six seasons in Seattle, Metcalf will look to set the tone in Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers. The veteran passer and receiver can foster a strong connection deep. On throws targeted 10 or more yards downfield, Metcalf has generated a 90.0-plus PFF receiving grade in each of the past three seasons.
Bottom Line
Pittsburgh’s defense should be an elite unit following additions to the secondary. The questions for this team reside on offense with an aging quarterback and a lack of clarity at running back, wide receiver and offensive tackle. If the Steelers protect Rodgers well enough, they have the makings of a playoff team.
This news was originally published on this post .
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