Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt came in at No. 11 on the annual NFL Top 100 list. He was ranked No. 8 in 2024 and No. 27 in 2023.
It's Watt's seventh straight year making the NFL Top 100, which is voted on by the players. Watt is the fourth Steeler to make the list on the countdown, joining Cam Heyward (No. 83), Patrick Queen (No. 75) and Jalen Ramsey (No. 66).
"Year in and year out, one of the most feared guys off the edge," Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Matthew Judon said of Watt on the NFL Top 100 countdown. "It's better when he's out there."
Steelers teammate Patrick Queen added, "When you talk about best defensive players in the league, I think he has to be the No. 1 player."
In July, the Steelers signed Watt to a three-year, $123 million extension that includes $108M fully guaranteed at signing. At the time, it was an NFL record deal for a non-quarterback, but Micah Parsons surpassed Watt on Thursday by reaching an agreement with the Green Bay Packers on a four-year, $188 million contract.
Watt has the most sacks in the NFL since 2020, racking up 73.5 during that time. Myles Garrett trails closely behind, with 72. Watt finished fourth in Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, totaling 61 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and a league-best six forced fumbles.
Heyward and Watt were the two Steelers players to crack ESPN's Top 100 Players list for the 2025 season. Heyward came in at No. 58, while Watt was just outside of the top 10 at No. 11.
"Heyward is playing some of the best football of his career of late. The defensive tackle earned All-Pro honors for a monstrous season in 2024, when he batted down a career-high 11 passes, collected eight sacks and recorded 20 QB hits. He is a disruptive force at the line of scrimmage and is poised to continue anchoring the Steelers' defense in 2025 ," Brooke Pryor of ESPN wrote.
ESPN projects Heyward to have 72 tackles and five sacks in 2025.
"Watt had an uncharacteristically quiet five-game stretch to end the 2024 season, and he has been blunt in his desire to shake things up entering 2025. Fresh off a record extension, he is focused on becoming more versatile and rushing from the left and right, " Pryor wrote
ESPN projects Watt to have60 tackles, 10 sacks and three passes defended in 2025.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (No. 10), Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons (No. 9), Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (No. 6) and Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett (No. 3) were the defensive players ranked ahead of Watt.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers' T.J. Watt Makes NFL's Top 100 List
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