Football <\/p>\n
Finally, training camp is here for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The players report Wednesday, and on Thursday they hit the field for the first practice of the summer, signaling the official return of Steelers football into our lives.<\/p>\n
For now, there\u2019s still some time to fill. Knowing that, it\u2019s time to wrap up my Ranking The Steelers\u2019 Starters series<\/a> here at Steelers Depot.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s been a busy offseason for the Steelers. A bunch of new faces came into the fold, while a number of familiar ones exited in free agency and via trade. Now, the roster is set, and the attention shifts to training camp battles.<\/p>\n No more speculation or debates about silly things like someone\u2019s fit, or what a player has left at this point in his career. We\u2019ve made it.<\/p>\n Here is the projected starting lineup that I believe the Steelers will roll out in Week 1 on the road against the New York Jets.<\/a><\/p>\n *indicates players already ranked in the series<\/em><\/p>\n Offense<\/strong> Defense<\/strong> Specialists<\/strong> With the projected starting lineup for this series out of the way, let\u2019s look at a quick rundown of the Ranking The Starters series so far.<\/p>\n No. 24 \u2014 Broderick Jones, LT<\/strong> Today, let\u2019s wrap up the Ranking the Steelers\u2019 Starters series, looking at No. 3-1.<\/p>\n Over the last few seasons Chris Boswell has thrust himself into the debate over best kicker in football. Now, entering 2025 there is no debate. Boswell is the best of the best, period.<\/p>\n Last season, Boswell drilled a career-high 41 field goals on 44 attempts, becoming the first Steeler to lead the NFL in scoring<\/a>. He was as automatic as they come and was a huge part of the Steelers\u2019 scoring output throughout the season.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t just short kicks, either. Boswell was the best in the business from 50+ yards<\/a>, too, connecting on 13-of-15 field goals from that distance. With the style of play the Steelers are leaning on, featuring low-scoring games with a great defense and an offense that doesn\u2019t turn the ball over, it\u2019s huge to have a weapon like Boswell.<\/p>\n Yes, T.J. Watt had a quiet year in 2024 based on expectations. But that doesn\u2019t mean he had a bad year. Watt finished with 11.5 sacks and led the NFL with six forced fumbles, continuing to be a game-wrecking force.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Watt\u2019s sacks and pressures declined from the 2023 season, but one thing changed with the way offenses schemed against him. Watt faced the highest amount of chips and double teams in the NFL<\/a> last season of any pass rusher. The Steelers never helped Watt by moving him around, making him a stationary target for offenses.<\/p>\n Watt also battled injuries late in the season to his ankle and his thumb, which could have helped slow him down. In the final two games of the year, Watt posted back-to-back goose-egg performances. Not good enough.<\/p>\n Yet, that didn\u2019t stop the Steelers from giving him a three-year, $123 million extension last week, keeping him in the Black and Gold for the foreseeable future. He\u2019s entering his age-31 season, but Watt remains an elite player and should have another great season as he continues to add to his Hall of Fame resume.<\/p>\n I really wrestled with putting Cameron Heyward over Watt in these rankings. But looking back at Heyward\u2019s 2024 season, it\u2019s hard to argue that he wasn\u2019t the Steelers\u2019 best player.<\/p>\n Heyward recorded 8.0 sacks, batted down 11 passes at the line of scrimmage to lead all non-defensive backs, and was a force against the run all season. After battling injuries in 2023, Heyward was healthy all season and returned to his elite form, proving a lot of the doubters wrong.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Now, the challenge is doing it again in his age-36 season. While Father Time is undefeated, Heyward is doing a great job of holding him off. In recent years he\u2019s changed his workouts habits some<\/a> and has struck a balance while remaining a powerful voice and also adding some mobility and flexibility.<\/p>\n He\u2019s already seemingly strengthened his Hall of Fame resume, putting him closer to being a lock. If he can put together another dominant year and earn another All-Pro accolade? You can start creating the bust now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nQB \u2014 Aaron Rodgers<\/em><\/strong>
\nRB \u2014 Jaylen Warren<\/em><\/strong>
\nWR \u2014 DK Metcalf<\/em><\/strong>
\nWR \u2014 Calvin Austin III<\/em><\/strong>
\nTE \u2014 Pat Freiermuth<\/em><\/strong>
\nTE \u2014 Jonnu Smith<\/em><\/strong>
\nLT \u2014 Broderick Jones<\/em><\/strong>
\nLG \u2014 Isaac Seumalo<\/em><\/strong>
\nC \u2014 Zach Frazier<\/em><\/strong>
\nRG \u2014 Mason McCormick<\/em><\/strong>
\nRT \u2014 Troy Fautanu<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nDE \u2014 Cameron Heyward<\/strong>
\nNT \u2014 Keeanu Benton<\/em><\/strong>
\nDE \u2014 Derrick Harmon<\/em><\/strong>
\nOLB \u2014 T.J. Watt<\/strong>
\nILB \u2014 Patrick Queen<\/em><\/strong>
\nILB \u2014 Payton Wilson<\/em><\/strong>
\nOLB \u2014 Alex Highsmith<\/em><\/strong>
\nCB \u2014 Joey Porter Jr.<\/em><\/strong>
\nCB \u2014 Darius Slay<\/em><\/strong>
\nDB \u2014 Jalen Ramsey<\/em><\/strong>
\nS \u2014 DeShon Elliott<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nK \u2014 Chris Boswell<\/strong>
\nP \u2014 Cameron Johnston<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nNo. 23 \u2014 Troy Fautanu, RT<\/strong>
\nNo. 22 \u2014 Calvin Austin III, WR\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNo. 21 \u2014 Cameron Johnston, P<\/strong>
\nNo. 20 \u2014 Derrick Harmon, DE<\/strong>
\nNo. 19 \u2014 Mason McCormick, RG\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNo. 18 \u2014 Keeanu Benton, NT\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNo. 17 \u2014 Darius Slay, CB<\/strong>
\nNo. 16 \u2014 Jaylen Warren, RB\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNo. 15 \u2014 Payton Wilson, ILB<\/strong>
\nNo. 14 \u2014 Patrick Queen, ILB<\/strong>
\nNo. 13 \u2014 Aaron Rodgers, QB<\/strong>
\nNo. 12 \u2014 Pat Freiermuth, TE\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNo. 11 \u2014 Joey Porter Jr., CB\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNo. 10 \u2014 Jonnu Smith, TE\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNo. 9 \u2014 Isaac Seumalo, LG<\/strong>
\nNo. 8 \u2014 Jalen Ramsey, DB<\/strong>
\nNo. 7 \u2014 DK Metcalf, WR\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNo. 6 \u2014 DeShon Elliott, S<\/strong>
\nNo. 5 \u2014 Zach Frazier, C<\/strong>
\nNo. 4 \u2014 Alex Highsmith, OLB<\/strong><\/p>\nNO. 3 \u2014 CHRIS BOSWELL, K<\/h3>\n
NO. 2 \u2014 T.J. WATT, OLB<\/h3>\n
NO. 1 \u2014 CAMERON HEYWARD, DE<\/h3>\n