The Steelers are building a new nucleus

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for a new nucleus for the organization for a long time now. The glory days of the early 2000s are a distant memory, and when you think about the nucleus of those teams who won, and went to, Super Bowls, they were as strong as they come.

Think about the nucleus of those teams:

• RB Jerome Bettis
• WR Hines Ward
• C Maurkice Pouncey
• TE Heath Miller
• QB Ben Roethlisberger
• OLB Joey Porter
• ILB James Farrior
• S Ryan Clark
• S Troy Polamlu
• CB Ike Taylor

I could even rattle off other players who were leaders on those teams, but they all encompassed leadership characteristics in some way.

In this respect, the Steelers are trying hard to duplicate a nucleus similar to that one. Granted, that might be impossible, the aforementioned group was special, but they are doing their best to try and create a core which is the next group to compete for a Super Bowl.

Before diving into what I feel is the new future nucleus for the team, there is some context I need to add before getting to the list.

• I’m not including aging veterans to the core for the future. So, you won’t see T.J. Watt or Cam Heyward on the below lists. They are great players and leaders, and they absolutely will help sculpt the new nucleus, but they aren’t necessarily a part of it.
• With that in mind, I’m looking for players who are solid players, but still have at least one more contract in front of them.
• Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Some are skill position players, some are vocal leaders and some lead by example. They all are a part of this nucleus the Steelers are trying to build.

Let’s get to the players I think the organization is trying to build around…

Offense

Pat Freiermuth (26)

Freiermuth might not be the flashy tight end, but he absolutely is a young leader on this team. He was rewarded with a new contract prior to the 2024 season, and he is a big piece of this nucleus the team is trying to build.

DK Metcalf (27)

The Steelers paid Metcalf handsomely, and they are expecting big things from him not just on the field, but off it. Metcalf isn’t the rah-rah leader, but will be called upon to lead by example.

Zach Frazier (23)

The center on any football team, if the center is any good, will have their center be a leader for the organization. Maurkice Pouncey was vocal, but Mike Webster was definitely a “follow me” type leader. Frazier is more of the latter, but could be the rock on the offense for the next decade plus.

Troy Fautanu (24)

Just like Frazier, Fautanu has the feel for a player who was drafted to be not just a solid player, but a leader on the team. Fautanu has a lot to prove, but the team sees him as a very big part of the equation moving forward.

Quarterback (??)

The quarterback for the team should always be a big piece of the nucleus. Some might say the quarterback is the most important part of the equation, and that will be a huge facet of the team figuring out the nucleus moving forward.

Defense

Derrick Harmon (21)

Harmon is young, but has the same feel to him as Cam Heyward when he was drafted to the Steelers in the 2011 NFL Draft. A young man brimming with character and talent to match. Harmon might not be the leader Cam has been for the organization, but he’ll be a big part of the building process.

Payton Wilson (25)

Wilson is young, and a versatile piece within the middle of the defense. On top of that, he was a captain on his college team in 2023, and was even named to the Ring of Honor at N.C. State. Wilson is looking to take a big step in 2025, and that step will likely involve building around the ILB.

DeShon Elliott (28)

Elliott is pushing the envelope of aging out of this exercise, but he also just got a new extension; therefore, the Steelers value him enough to keep him around. The same wasn’t able to be said about Minkah Fitzpatrick. Elliott is vocal, bleeds black-and-gold, and has the game to back it up. A perfect building block for the Steelers.

Joey Porter Jr. (24)

Porter Jr. is entering a critical year in his development, but he absolutely has the look, and feel, of a player who will be a Steeler for a very long time. He might not be the talker his dad was, but everyone leads in their own way. I think Porter Jr. will be the cornerback leader, and a part of the nucleus, for years to come.

Alex Highsmith (27) and/or Nick Herbig (23)

I’m not sold both of these players are long-term answers for the Steelers, but I believe at least one will be the anchor on the outside after T.J. Watt’s time in Pittsburgh is done. Both would fall into the age range, and leadership role, for the new nucleus.

I’m sure there are people who either listened to the podcast Friday, or are reading this article, and wonder why players like Patrick Queen (25) or Broderick Jones (24) aren’t listed. To be honest, I’m not sold either of those players could be considered answers to the question at hand. Do I hope Broderick Jones proves to be the long term answer at left tackle? Absolutely, but that doesn’t mean I believe it right now. Could Queen, who is still young, step into his role in Year 2 in Pittsburgh and show he will be there with Payton Wilson every step of the way as the long term 1-2 at ILB? He could, and I hope he does, but that doesn’t mean I’m expecting it.

What say you? What do you agree, or disagree, with in the above list? Let me know what you might change in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp next week.

To hear this episode of the “Let’s Ride” podcast, check out the player below: