Pittsburgh Steelers fans are already counting down, with exactly nine Sundays until their 2026 season kicks off against the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, and the big question is who's gonna step up. After all the moves the Steelers made this offseason, picking their top players for 2026 was tough, but a few names are definitely emerging.
One player they're really looking at for a comeback is wide receiver DK Metcalf. The two-time Pro Bowler had a down season in 2025, no doubt about it. But you gotta give him some slack, right? He was basically the only real threat they had at wide receiver. Now, with Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard joining the team, the Steelers are hoping that pressure comes off Metcalf and he can get back to looking like the absolute beast we saw in Seattle. On the ground, Jaylen Warren is another one to watch. He only played 50 percent of offensive snaps last season, but the guy put up a career-high 956 rushing yards, 333 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns. The Steelers need to unleash this dual-threat back more consistently in 2026. And on the offensive line, Troy Fautanu is making big moves. After missing most of his rookie season, he had a fantastic 2025 at right tackle, with Pittsburgh ranking 11th in success rate on right-side rushes. Now he's shifting to the left side, tasked with protecting Aaron Rodgers' blind side. If he can keep his sacks allowed around the two he gave up in 2025, everyone in Pittsburgh will be hyped.
On defense, the Steelers made a quiet, but huge, pickup in cornerback Jamel Dean. This veteran corner had another strong season in 2025, but his addition kinda flew under the radar. He allowed just one touchdown as the nearest defender and snagged three picks. Dean also only gave up 22 receptions on 51 targets, and his target EPA of -28.3 was the second-best among qualified defensive backs, just behind Jalen Pitre of the Houston Texans. That's some serious shutdown stuff right there!
The Steelers' pass rush is always gonna be key, and Alex Highsmith is gearing up to lead the charge. He had his best pass rushing season since 2022, notching 21 quick pressures, which was more than guys like Jared Verse and Danielle Hunter. His average time to sack of 4.37 seconds was also faster than Aidan Hutchinson and Myles Garrett. Then there's T.J. Watt. It's tough to put him at No. 5, but he hasn't looked like himself since 2023, totaling just 7.5 sacks last season. His 44 pressures and 10.1 percent pressure rate were both third among Steelers edge rushers. Nobody expects him to hit 22.5 sacks again, but Pittsburgh needs him to bounce back big time in 2026 and get north of 10.
With the 2026 season starting in just nine Sundays, all eyes will be on these players to see if they can live up to expectations. Will Metcalf regain that Seattle fire? Will Watt find his elite form again? The Falcons are coming to Acrisure Stadium, and Steelers fans will be ready to see what this squad is truly made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.