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When you look at the top teams in the NFL, there are trends you see. If you are not one of those teams, you need to be paying attention. One of the keys to a great team is elite talent at the top and typically those players are in their prime. The Pittsburgh Steelers are not among the top teams in the NFL and when you look at Pro Football Focus’ Top Three players on each team, you get a sense why the Steelers might be ready for a full rebuild.
PFF lists the Steelers top three players at edge defender T.J. Watt, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and wide receiver DK Metcalf. Here’s what they had to say about the trio:
Watt posted a three-year WAR total of 1.24 and averaged 0.41 per season, ranking sixth among edge defenders. At 35, Heyward still produced a 90.1 overall grade and an 85.9 pass-rush grade, marking his third career elite season. Metcalf joins Pittsburgh this year after earning a 0.32 WAR in 2024 and should have an immediate impact.
When a 35-year-old defensive tackle, a 30-year-old pass rusher and a wide receiver who has never actually taken the field for the team are the three best, this nine-year playoff drought makes sense.
This is in no way a shot at any of these guys. They are all great players. But compare them to the top three of the top teams in the league and they don’t replace any of those players. That’s what the Steelers should be worried about. No quarterback, no offensive line, no defensive back and no young talent is a problem. This doesn’t mean the Steelers cannot field a competitive team because this skill is what continues to keep head coach Mike Tomlin employed. But at some point, we want to see the Steelers make a strong effort to be more than just middle of the road.
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