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Pittsburgh Steelers Ranked No. 1 in Key Position Ahead of 2026 NFL Season
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- Pittsburgh Steelers Ranked No. 1 in Key Position Ahead of 2026 NFL Season
The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2026 NFL season with one of the league's strongest edge-rushing groups, according to a recent positional ranking. T.J. Watt remains the centerpiece of a unit that combines elite production, experience and promising depth along the defensive front.
Watt's presence gives Pittsburgh a major advantage whenever opponents attempt to protect their quarterbacks. The veteran pass rusher has consistently demonstrated an ability to disrupt games through sacks, pressures and forced turnovers, making him one of the most influential defensive players in the league.
Dec 7, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
The strength of the group extends beyond its established star, however. Pittsburgh also has experienced options capable of creating pressure from the edge, giving the defense multiple ways to attack opposing offensive lines throughout the season.
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Nick Herbig is another player drawing attention heading into the campaign. The young edge rusher has shown flashes of the ability to become a larger contributor, and continued development could give Pittsburgh another dangerous weapon to rotate into its pass-rushing packages.
NFL Analysis Ranks Pittsburgh Steelers' Edge Rusher Group as Best in the League
Dec 25, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) reacts as he takes the field against the Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Pittbsurgh's edge rusher group was recently named as the best in the league. This is detailed more in an analysis by Mike Clay for ESPN.
The Steelers top the edge list for the second consecutive year. Last season, they ranked fourth in the NFL with a 41.3% pass rush win rate and were sixth with 48 sacks. T.J. Watt is not coming off his best campaign, but he was an All-Pro in each of his past five healthy seasons. Alex Highsmith is a terrific running mate with 37.0 sacks over the past four seasons. Nick Herbig registered a career-high 7.5 sacks last season, and his 24.7% pass rush win rate since entering the league in 2021 is second to only Micah Parsons.
Alex Highsmith also remains an important component of the Steelers' defensive structure. His ability to consistently contribute opposite Watt gives Pittsburgh a dependable presence on the other side of the formation and prevents offenses from focusing their protection entirely on one player.
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The combination of proven production and emerging talent makes Pittsburgh's edge-rushing unit particularly difficult to overlook. With Watt leading the way and several capable players supporting him, the Steelers have the personnel to maintain one of the NFL's most formidable pass-rushing groups as the 2026 season gets underway.
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