The Steelers Most Pivotal “Positional Duos” for 2025 and Beyond

As the Pittsburgh Steelers gear up for the 2025 NFL season, their success will hinge on several key positional duos on both sides of the ball. With a roster blending veteran talent and emerging youth, the following five duos, ranked by their impact on the team’s future, will be pivotal for both present and future success. Here’s a breakdown of the most important non-QB duos for the Steelers’ success in 2025 and beyond.

1. OLBs T.J. Watt & Alex Highsmith

The Steelers’ defense success start and stops with the pass-rushing prowess of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the NFL’s premier edge duo. Watt, despite a late-2024 dip with just four sacks in his final seven games, remains a Defensive Player of the Year candidate when healthy, though his contract situation bears monitoring this summer. Highsmith, with 11 starts in 2024 and part of a combined 33 sacks with Watt in prior seasons, is a critical complement to the perennial All-Pro. Could 2025 be his last season in Pittsburgh if the Steelers decide to extend Watt and move forward with Nick Herbig and the newly drafted Jack Sawyer? It’s something to watch moving forward, but for now, this duo’s ability to pressure AFC North passers like Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson will define Pittsburgh’s defensive ceiling.

2. LT Broderick Jones & RT Troy Fautanu

The offensive line’s future rests on Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, the Steelers’ 2023 and 2024 first-round picks tasked with anchoring the tackles. Jones, who struggled in 2024 with 12 sacks allowed and 41 pressures in 588 pass-blocking snaps, has been shuffled between left and right tackle, hindering his development. Fautanu, sidelined for all but one game in 2024 due to a knee injury, is expected to start at right tackle, with Jones shifting back to his natural left side. Both players were drafted high to help provide long-term stability for a rebuilt OL, but their inexperience and Fautanu’s injury history raise concerns. If this duo gels, they’ll help the Steelers expedite their rebuild in the trenches, making them critical to the offense’s success moving forward.

3. WRs DK Metcalf & Roman Wilson

The acquisition of DK Metcalf via trade transforms the Steelers’ receiving corps, pairing his physicality with rookie Roman Wilson’s potential. Metcalf, with 12 starts in 2024, brings elite boundary skills and a frame that fits Mike Tomlin’s push for physicality, though his contract through 2028 demands consistent production. Wilson, a 2024 third-round pick, missed his entire rookie season due to injuries, leaving his role as a slot or Z-receiver uncertain but promising. The duo’s success depends on Wilson’s ability to stay healthy and complement Metcalf’s deep-threat ability, especially with George Pickens now over in Dallas. Their chemistry with the quarterback will be key to stretching defenses and sustaining Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense.

4. CBs Joey Porter Jr. & Darius Slay

Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay form a formidable cornerback tandem, but their long-term impact is tied to youth and health. Porter, a 2023 second-rounder, showed flashes as a shutdown corner but needs to rebound from a 2024 season that didn’t meet expectations. Slay, signed to a one-year, $10 million deal in 2025 at age 34, is a stopgap who enables more man coverage but isn’t a long-term solution. His presence feels more about helping Porter and fellow young CB Cory Trice Jr. develop for the future. A 2023 seventh-round pick, Trice offers hope for the future with a team-low 8.1 snaps per reception allowed in 2024, but his extensive injury history—missing most of his first two seasons—makes his development a gamble. Meanwhile, Porter and Slay’s ability to lock down receivers like Ja’Marr Chase is crucial, while Trice’s growth will determine the position’s stability beyond 2025.

5. DTs Keeanu Benton & Derrick Harmon

Keeanu Benton and rookie Derrick Harmon are the future of Pittsburgh’s defensive line with Cam Heyward turning 36 in 2025. While it’s fairly safe to project another solid season for Heyward, despite the age concerns, the future lies with these 2 young guys. Benton, a 2023 second-round pick, flashed potential with a high ceiling but needs consistency after a solid, but overall underwhelming sophomore campaign in 2024. Harmon, a 2025 first-rounder, brings physicality with a 17.6% pass-rush win rate in college, but we haven’t seen him play a down yet in the NFL, obviously. Heyward’s age makes Benton and Harmon’s development urgent, as the Steelers’ run defense faltered late in 2024. This duo’s ability to stop the run and collapse pockets will be critical to maintaining Pittsburgh’s defensive identity.

The Steelers’ 2025 success hinges on these duos’ ability to perform and/or grow into the dominant units they are billed or were drafted to be. Their development will shape Pittsburgh’s trajectory in a competitive AFC moving forward.