2025 Steelers Defensive Bold Predictions

With the offensive side of the ball done, which you can check out here. It’s time to turn our attention to the side of the ball that’s been the backbone of the Steelers’ success in recent years — the defense.

But in 2024, there were moments where one of the most talented units in football looked surprisingly average — or even below.

Now, in 2025, the goal is to bounce back and reclaim their status as one of the league’s most feared defenses. If that happens, some of these bold predictions just might come true.

The Steelers’ defense notches 50+ sacks in the season

Over the past three seasons, the Steelers have failed to hit the 50-sack mark — a number that once felt automatic during their dominant 2017 to 2021 stretch. But going into 2025, they have another chance to be able to eclipse that total once again. Now the question will be, can they do it? And as we sit here in May, it is clearly impossible to know, but there are a few factors this year that could play a key role in breaking the three-year streak of sub-50 sack seasons.

First up is the expectation that T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith will combine for more than 17.5 sacks this season. While that might sound like a lazy projection, I don’t think Watt has regressed to the point where last season’s sack total is his new normal. A realistic target for the duo would be somewhere between 23 and 26 sacks — a welcome boost for a team looking to recapture its pass-rushing identity.

Then there’s the addition of Derrick Harmon, the 21st overall pick and Larry Ogunjobi’s direct replacement after his departure to Buffalo. Harmon isn’t expected to dominate from day one, but as the most disruptive interior defensive lineman in the 2025 class, it’s fair to anticipate an upgrade on Ogunjobi’s modest 1.5 sacks from last season.

Patrick Queen plays at an All-Pro level

Patrick Queen was handed the largest contract ever given to an outside free agent in Steelers history, finally addressing the long-standing void at off-ball linebacker since the tragic injury to Ryan Shazier. While many fans may view Queen’s first season in Pittsburgh as a disappointment, I see it differently.

I genuinely believe Queen was a valuable piece of the Steelers’ defense in 2024, and he’ll only continue to improve—especially considering the uptick in form we saw from him after the bye week.

Why the optimism? For starters, 2025 will be Queen’s second year in the Steelers’ system. He’ll be more comfortable as the “quarterback” of the defense, wearing the green dot—a role that was new to him last season. With increased familiarity, I expect Queen to play faster and more instinctively. That comfort should allow his natural instincts and elite physical traits to reemerge at the forefront of his game, leading to more splash plays and impact moments.

In 2023 we saw what that looks like for Queen, who put together a career year for Baltimore where he made 133 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 6 passes defensed — which earned him Second Team All-Pro honours. So, with all these factors in his favor—another year of experience, increased familiarity with the Steelers’ scheme, and elite tools already proven at the NFL level—why can’t Queen replicate his 2023 form in this upcoming season?

This is the Patrick Queen we’ve been waiting for.

Played like he had a rocket strapped to him against the Raiders. Athleticism + awareness to sniff out the screen come together perfectly here. pic.twitter.com/47s6XyrAV5

— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) October 14, 2024

Keeanu Benton officially breaks out

The 2023 second-round pick out of Wisconsin came into his sophomore season with big expectations, but he may not have fully lived up to the hype that surrounded his 2024 campaign. Don’t get me wrong—he was still a solid contributor—but there was a growing belief that he could take the leap toward Pro Bowl-level play. Those were lofty expectations, of course, and while he didn’t quite hit that mark, he remained an important piece of the defense.

That said, his pass rush and run defense grades on PFF both saw a dip, which—while not the end-all, be-all—does offer some kind of insight. The more concerning stat was a drop in total hurries, especially considering he played 155 more snaps than in his rookie year. The silver lining? He did manage to double his sack total from one to two, showing some progression in terms of production.

Heading into year three, this will be a crucial season in Keeanu Benton’s tenure with the Steelers—and I fully expect him to treat it that way. He’ll enter camp as the clear-cut No. 2 behind Cam Heyward, but first-round pick Derrick Harmon will be breathing down his neck, pushing hard for playing time beside the team captain.

Still, based on the talent we’ve seen on tape and the fact that Benton didn’t experience any major drop-off between his rookie and sophomore years, I believe he’s primed for a true breakout in 2025. I expect him to become more stout against the run, while also taking a noticeable step forward as a pass rusher. Don’t be surprised if he finishes the year with 4 to 5 sacks, along with career highs in hurries and quarterback hits as his overall disruption climbs.

As I said last time, these are just my opinions as we sit here in May. With so many factors still up in the air, a lot can change between now and this time next year—so yeah, some of these takes could end up way off the mark. But that’s part of the fun.

Now we want to hear from you. What are your bold predictions for the Steelers’ defense in 2025? Let us know in the comment section below!