My Picks for the Top 15 Steelers Players This Season (15–11)

With just under two weeks until the Steelers open their season, there is a bit of downtime for fans once roster cuts are completed. I thought it would be fun to run an exercise predicting who will be the Steelers’ best 15 players once the 2025/26 season is all said and done. I’m going to do this in a three-part series, covering 15th to 11th, 10th to 6th, and finally 5th to 1st. With that said, I’m excited to dive into the first five names I have making the Steelers’ top 15 players this season.

15th | Derrick Harmon

The rookie will miss the early portion of the season with the MCL sprain he sustained in the third preseason game against the Panthers. Even so, I expect him to play the majority of games, and by midseason, he should establish himself as the second interior defensive lineman in base packages alongside Cam Heyward. Harmon’s disruptive ability as a pass rusher was evident in college, where he posted a 15.8% pass rush win rate and led his position group with 55 pressures.

While I don’t expect gaudy box score numbers right away, I do see him creating plenty of chaos for opposing quarterbacks while holding his own against the run, just as he showed in the preseason. That’s why I have him sneaking into the list at No. 15.

14th | Darius Slay

During training camp, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said he has three elite coverage players in Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr., and the elder statesman of that group comes in at No. 14 on the list. Slay is coming off a Super Bowl run with the Eagles, who were ready to hand the keys to their young core in the secondary while also cutting costs.

For the Steelers, they added Slay through free agency, and he now joins a cornerback group that on paper could be the best in the league. Looking at the hierarchy, I see him being the third name on the field, but even at age 34 he will still have plenty to do. His main calling card used to be elite athleticism, but with that now fading, he relies on his flawless technique to continue playing at a high level. I expect Slay to handle his business effectively this season and prove he is still a very good corner in the league.

13th | Payton Wilson

By all accounts, Wilson has shown up to camp this season a completely different player, now carrying the swagger that comes with being both a Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus Award winner in college. In his rookie year, Wilson was a solid linebacker who gradually adjusted to the speed of the pro game, but with a full offseason under his belt, I expect him to take the next step and become the player many envisioned coming out of NC State.

For me, that means being more decisive when attacking downhill and hitting gaps in the run game. The bigger leap, though, would be in pass coverage. He’s already solid, but with his athletic profile, he has the chance to develop into a truly special three-down linebacker if he can round out that part of his game.

12th | DeShon Elliott

Elliott had a career year last season in his first campaign with the Steelers, emerging as arguably a top-three player on their star-studded defense. By the numbers, he recorded 108 tackles, six pass deflections, and two forced fumbles, but the most impressive part of his play was his tackling efficiency. He posted the highest tackle success rate for anyone with over 100 attempts in the Next Gen Stats era, completing 97.3% of his attempts.

Elliott’s excellent play earned him a contract extension, and he is now the top recognized safety on the roster following Minkah Fitzpatrick’s trade to Miami. I expect another big season from him, potentially with a slightly expanded role, which should be no problem given how well he fits the Steelers’ system.

11th | Joey Porter Jr.

Sticking with defensive backs, the third-year corner rounds out this article and comes in at No. 11 on my projection of the Steelers’ top 15 players for the coming season. In his sophomore campaign, he experienced a bit of a slump across the board. His catch percentage allowed jumped from 46% to 65.8%, and he also conceded 15 penalties, up from 13 the previous year. I think a big bounce-back is in the cards for him, especially since he no longer needs to carry the load as the team’s only lockdown corner, with two very capable veterans now alongside him.

There is no doubt in my mind Porter Jr. will have a rebound season, which could even land him higher on the list, but with so many talented players on the roster, this seems like a fair placement.

Well, there you have it. That wraps up the first part of this series, where we’ve identified who I think will be the Steelers’ 15th through 11th best players this season. With that said, let me know how you feel about the placements.