​We are officially less than three weeks away from the Pittsburgh Steelers reporting for training camp, and anticipation is building as camps around the league approach. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is continuing his series surveying league executives and coaches to rank the best players at each position, and the latest edge rusher rankings spotlight a surprising dip for Pittsburgh’s own T.J. Watt. In Fowler’s current top-10 for edge rushers, Watt falls noticeably from last year’s lofty standing, sliding from the coveted No. 2 spot to No. 7. An AFC executive offered a blunt assessment: “Definitely in decline. He’s still very good, but some of the younger players have surpassed him.” Watt’s decline follows a turbulent 2025 season and is compounded by a midseason setback when a collapsed lung forced him to miss three games after a dry needling incident at the team facility. His 7.5 sacks this past year represent the lowest total since 2022, and Watt—the franchise’s all-time sacks leader—has seen his numbers drop in consecutive seasons.
What’s equally striking is the context surrounding Watt’s drop: fellow Steelers edge rushers Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig not only remained in the discussion but were acknowledged among others who received votes for the top-10 list, landing in the honorable mentions rather than the main ranking. The Steelers’ edge rush room is widely recognized as their strongest position, and the numbers bear that out. Highsmith led the team with 9.5 sacks last season, while Watt and Herbig each totaled 7.5 sacks. Herbig’s trajectory has been rising steadily through three years in the league, and his performance helped justify a four-year, $100 million contract extension—a deal that signals a substantial role and increased playing time for him this season.
As camp approaches, the Steelers will hopeful that Watt can rediscover his peak form while Highsmith and Herbig continue to develop and contribute at a high level. The dynamic between the trio remains a central storyline for Pittsburgh’s defense, and the coaching staff will be looking to maximize depth and production from this unit. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Watt responds to the rankings scrutiny and whether this unit can reaffirm its status as one of the league’s most disruptive front sevens.
Share your thoughts below and stay with Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest Steelers news, in-depth analyses, and more coverage as the 2026 season approaches. Whether you’re curious about the Steelers’ free-agent activity, Joey Porter Jr.’s standing among cornerbacks, or how the team stacks up in the broader NFL hierarchy, we’ve got you covered. This season’s edge rush projections, contract implications, and tactical adjustments are all part of the ongoing conversation as Pittsburgh gears up for camp and beyond.