Steelers Magical Pass Rush Duo Tops AFC North Rival In 2023 BR Rankings

The Pittsburgh Steelers' pass rush has been one of the biggest strengths of the team for years. The unit anchored by 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year, TJ Watt and perennial Pro Bowler, Cameron Heyward should be poised for another great year in 2023 wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The formidable pair in line to etch themselves into the franchise's record book is primed to be the best pass rush duo in the league in 2023 according to a recent ranking of duos at the position by Bleacher Report. 

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for the online publication and he recently put out his rankings of duos around the league. The Steelers tandem of Watt and Heyward took the top spot and it was by a fairly wide margin. 

"[T.J.] Watt and [Cameron] Heyward stand together at a distance from the four other passing-rushing pairs," he said. "Unlike anyone else on this list, Watt has led the NFL in sacks twice, and he's won Defensive Player of the Year. If he puts an injury-riddled 2022 campaign behind him, expect the three-time All-Pro to log double-digit sacks for a fifth season." 

He elaborated that it might seem a bit unusual to not include Alex Highsmith, the team's sack leader in 2022, as part of the duo.

He qualified it with the overall strength of Heyward's resume and the fact he seems to continue to age like a fine wine. 

"Heyward has aged well with six consecutive Pro Bowl years going back to 2017 and three All-Pro years in the same span," he said. "He's coming off back-to-back 10-plus sack seasons with at least 30 pressures in four straight years."        

Moton continued and believes that Watt and Heyward should help the team get good, consistent inside and outside pressure. He thinks that if Highsmith can continue to build on his breakout season in 2022, it could be him and Watt occupying the top spot on rankings like these in a year's time. 

Steelers Will Have To Deal With Revamped Top 5 AFC North Duo 

Any pass-rushing duo with Myles Garrett is bound to be a scary one. The Cleveland Browns' new duo wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks made up of Garrett and offseason trade addition, Za'Darius Smith will present a tough challenge for every offensive line that has to face them. 

"Based on age, Smith may be slightly past his prime, but he should continue to produce at a high level alongside two-time All-Pro Myles Garrett, who's coming off consecutive 16-sack seasons," he said. "Somehow, Garrett has yet to win Defensive Player of the Year, but he could change that in the upcoming campaign with a high-volume sack collector on the opposite side of the Browns' defensive line."

The team has tried former first-round pick, Jadeveon Clowney for the last two seasons, but he didn't work out. After posting nine sacks in 2021, he was limited to just two before he parted ways with the team at the end of the year. 

The other reason that Moton thinks that the Browns could be a scary unit to deal with is a change to the coaching staff. The team brought former Detriot Lions Head Coach, Jim Schwartz over from the Philadelphia Eagles as their new Defensive Coordinator. His maximization of weapons with the Eagles in 2020 ranked third in sacks and second in pressure rate. He should be able to put Smith and Garrett in positions to have a similar type of impact. 

The Steelers put a considerable investment in the offensive line in free agency and it will be put to the test against the Browns when the teams face off for the first time in Week 2. Pittsburgh should have a formidable pass rush unit going forward with Watt and Heyward. The team added some insurance with veteran, Markus Golden and is working to extend Highsmith.

Do you agree that Watt and Heyward make up the best pass-rushing duo in the league? Will it be Highsmith and Watt on the list next year? Let us know in the comments!

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