The Pittsburgh Steelers and their historic franchise enter the 2022 season with a refreshed look. They bring back plenty of talented players, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, while there are some welcomed additions as well.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 Steelers players heading into the 2022 season:
1. TJ Watt
Before last season, this may have been up for debate. Now, there's no argument for anyone other than TJ Watt in this spot. He's coming off a historic season in which he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. Only one year in, Watt's already proved to be worth every penny of the four-year, $112 million extension he signed last off-season.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 08: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts during warm up before a game against the Chicago Bears at Heinz Field on November 08, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
2. Cam Heyward
The No. 2 slot was a difficult decision between Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick. At this point, it's virtually splitting hairs amongst these elite defenders. The reasoning for Heyward over Fitzpatrick was simply the fact that Heyward has been a consistent staple in this defense for over a decade. He's made three consecutive All-Pro teams, in addition to five straight Pro Bowl appearances.
3. Minkah Fitzpatrick
While Minkah Fitzpatrick's 2021 season wasn't nearly as bad as some may lead you to believe (cough cough P..F..F), it was still a drop off in play from his previous two All-Pro seasons. For these reasons, Fitzpatrick slides in just under Heyward. With all of this being said, he remains the best player of the Steelers secondary and a vital member to the team's success. His play was rewarded, as the team signed Fitzpatrick to a four-year, $73 million extension. Job well done on both sides, as he's now in black and gold at least through 2026.
4. Najee Harris
This comes as no disrespect to Najee Harris and the guys below, but there's a slight drop off after the top three guys on this list. Again, that comes as no disrespect as those are three All-Pro players. Harris slots in at the No. 4 spot on the list despite just one year under his belt. He still managed to impress in his rookie season though, as he finished fourth in the NFL with 1,200 rushing yards.
Photo credit via Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
5. Diontae Johnson
After Fitzpatrick's extension, Diontae Johnson seems to be next in line. He's become a very good wide receiver in the NFL. While he still makes head-scratching mistakes at times, he significantly cut back on those instances in 2021. If he continues to take that next step and eliminate those drops, Johnson has the potential to become a top-10 WR in football. Until then, he sits just outside that prestigious group.
6. Chris Boswell
Speaking of extensions, Boswell is likely to get one before the season as well. The 31-year-old has been the team's most underrated player for years now, as he's made over 90% of his FG attempts in five of his seven years in Pittsburgh.
AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron
7. James Daniels
Although he has yet to play a game in a Steelers uniform, he's already left an imprint within the offensive line room. His leadership will be helpful for young guys like Dan Moore Jr. and Kendrick Green. As for on the field, Daniels will elevate this group's performance significantly. The Iowa product brings versatility as well, as he can play anywhere on the inside.
8. Alex Highsmith
Alex Highsmith is a guy that, like Johnson, made a leap last season but has the potential to continue to grow. 2021 was his first full season as a starter, but now knows what to expect. If he can take that next step, it would help form arguably the game's best edge rusher duo alongside Watt.
9. Myles Jack
Like Daniels, Myles Jack signed with the Steelers on a lucrative deal in the off-season. It was an unusual slew of moves for the Steelers' sake, but here we are. This was a move that had to be made by the black and gold, as Joe Schobert, Devin Bush, and others failed to bring any sort of consistency to the middle linebacker group last season. Jack brings a whole new dimension to this defense, starting with his speed.
Pittsburgh Steelers LB Myles Jack participates in OTA's. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
10. Pat Freiermuth
This last spot was really up for grabs, as Terrell Edmunds has a case after his much-improved 2021 season. The same can be said for Tyson Alualu, whose return will be immense for the 2022 Steelers defense, specifically the defensive line. With that, Pat Freiermuth came in and provided an upgrade for the Steelers in what's been a few uninspiring years at the position. He provided a Heath Miller-like security blanket for now-retired Ben Roethlisberger, and the same can be expected for whoever is at quarterback this year.
Just missed: Terrell Edmunds, Tyson Alualu
What do you guys think about this list? Is there anyone that missed out that you would add? Let us know your thoughts and who you think the top 10 Steelers are in the comments below!
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