​We are exactly nine Sundays away from the Pittsburgh Steelers kicking off their 2026 season against the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium. After all the offseason additions the Steelers have made, compiling a top-10 players list for 2026 proved more challenging than it has in recent years. My good friend Derrick Bell of Steelers Now does this exercise annually, and you should absolutely read his list as well. As a quick aside, I’ll follow Derrick’s lead and include only offensive and defensive players; Chris Boswell is great, but he will not be part of this list.
With that out of the way, let’s dive in.
Hopefully we see more of Jaylen Warren in 2026 than we did last season when he played in only about half of the offensive snaps. Even so, he maximized his touches, tallying a career-high 956 rushing yards, 333 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns. The Oklahoma State product is among the league’s best dual-threat backs and needs to be utilized in that role more consistently if Pittsburgh is going to capitalize on his skill set.
DeVonta Metcalf had a down year in 2025, but some credit is due for carrying a heavy load as the Steelers’ primary receiving threat. The additions of Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard should help him expand a bit more and resemble the player we saw during his Seattle days, when he was capable of taking over games.
Dean’s steady presence at cornerback has flown somewhat under the radar despite another strong season in 2025. He allowed just one touchdown as the nearest defender while collecting three interceptions. He also surrendered only 22 receptions on 51 targets, and his target EPA of -28.3 was the second-best mark among qualified defensive backs, behind only Jalen Pitre of the Houston Texans.
Fautanu enjoyed an outstanding season at right tackle in 2025 after missing the majority of his rookie year due to injury. Pittsburgh ranked 11th in rush success rate to the right side, according to SumerSports. Now moving to the left side, he will protect Aaron Rodgers’ blind side. If he can keep his sacks allowed around the two he gave up in 2025, the Steelers and their quarterback will be very happy.
Highsmith delivered his best pass-rushing season since 2022, finishing with 14.5 sacks. He contributed 21 quick pressures, surpassing peers like Jared Verse and Danielle Hunter in that category. His average time to sack, 4.37 seconds, was faster than peers such as Aidan Hutchinson and Myles Garrett.
I’ll place T.J. Watt at No. 5, albeit with some hesitation. He hasn’t looked like his former peak since 2023, totaling 7.5 sacks last season. He registered 44 pressures, which ranked third among Steelers edge rushers, and his 10.1 percent pressure rate was solid. Nobody expects him to approach 22.5 sacks again, but a big bounce-back season—reaching north of 10—would help anchor Pittsburgh’s defense and set the tone for the year ahead.
If you’re tracking this as a guide for how the Steelers might shape their 2026 campaign, keep an eye on how these players perform across the season and how the team’s new acquisitions influence their roles. The offense looks to be more dynamic with a wider array of weapons, while the defense aims to create more disruption and tighten coverage. With a relatively favorable start to the schedule, there’s reason to believe Pittsburgh can turn potential into production, and these players figure to be central to that effort.