​When it comes to pass rushers, few NFL franchises can rival the Pittsburgh Steelers’ storied history, yet the current group of edge defenders is proving to be perplexing. The team has poured substantial money into T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig, but over the past three seasons, Watt stands out as the only one to post double-digit sack totals in a season, and he accomplished that feat twice. Consequently, it isn’t shocking that Watt earned a spot on ESPN’s Top 10 edge rushers as selected by NFL executives and coaches, though it’s not hard to imagine the rankings looking different—had Watt been omitted or if another Steelers edge player had cracked the list instead, reactions would have been equally valid. This placement marks a significant fall for Watt, who sits at No. 7 after ranking No. 2 in both 2025 and 2024, a decline that underscores the steep drop in a Steelers defense that struggled under former coordinator Teryl Austin. Watt now eyes a major bounce-back season under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, especially after having missed several games last year due to a lung injury. Notably, Highsmith and Herbig also received votes, making the Steelers the only team with three players represented in the voting. This coverage originally appeared on Steelers Wire, highlighting that the Steelers had one edge rusher recognized in ESPN’s 2026 rankings for broader SEO reach.