Steelers Training Camp Outlook: LB Depth Chart

Watt’s big deal

The media would have you believe that the Steelers and T.J. Watt were at an en passe. However, the front office made sure that their best player would remain a “one helmet” player, as T.J. Watt signed an extension that will keep him with the Steelers through the 2028 season. When the new contract expires, Watt will be 34 years old.

The new three-year, $123 million contract extension includes $108 million fully guaranteed at signing, making Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, with an average annual salary of $41 million.

This is the second time in Watt’s career that he has become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league, having previously signed a four-year, $112 million deal in 2021.

So much for that holdout and potential trade everyone was talking about… now the Steelers can feel secure heading into the 2025 season, as they were previously 1-11 without Watt in the lineup.

Plenty of edge

Watt was an Associated Press (AP) Second Team All-Pro in 2024, finishing the season with 11.5 sacks. He reached 100 total sacks faster than all but one player in NFL history (Reggie White) and continues to be a menace on the gridiron, forcing six fumbles last season. Watt is paired with Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, who each have a boatload of pass rushing talent.

Highsmith took a step back in 2024, however, missing six games and seeing his sack total dip to six overall. In his place with the rotation, Herbig shot out of a cannon for 5.5 sacks with only five starts and playing just shy of half of all defensive snaps. He offers splash play prowess as well, forcing four fumbles in his limited time.

The remaining edge rushers may never see the field, but the Steelers will keep at least one or two of them.

Jeremiah Moon returns to camp after playing 13% of the defensive snaps, but failing to register any sacks, QB hits, or turnovers. His likely successors are the Steelers International player exemption, Julius Welschof, and fourth round pick Jack Sawyer from the Ohio State University.

Welschof is an anomaly, standing 6’6″ and weighing 265 lbs. despite playing on the edge. He turned heads last preseason with three sacks. Sawyer was a four-year player with the Buckeyes, accumulating 23 sacks including a collegiate career high nine in 2024 while aiding Ohio State to a national championship.

Back-to-back additions join forces

Pittsburgh’s search for a steady player in the middle of the field since Ryan Shazier’s abrupt injury has led them down several paths. The Steelers spent a lot of capital on acquiring inside linebacker Patrick Queen last offseason, as their 2023 marquee signing, Cole Holcomb, was injured late in that season and unavailable to play for almost all of 2024.

Holcomb would never see the field despite being activated for practice in late 2024. Now he’ll attempt a comeback alongside the headliner of the group, Queen, who took over Holcomb’s play calling duties.

The duo has enough panache to be one of the best inside linebacking duos in the league, and that’s without last year’s third-round steal Payton Wilson, who will also factor into playing significant reps in the regular season. In fact, the trio of Queen, Holcomb, and Wilson may be the best the Steelers have had in decades.

Queen, who was named a Pro Bowl alternate, led the team with 129 tackles in 2024 while Wilson was fourth with 78. Queen knocked down seven passes with Wilson forcing a fumble. Holcomb had 54 tackles, four for loss, in eight games in 2023 and should still find a solid split as Wilson played 45% of the snaps while the now departed Elandon Roberts carved out nearly 44% in the rotation.

Journeyman Malik Harrison, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, was signed in the offseason for depth and as a special teams consideration. Carson Bruener, son of former Steelers tight end Mark Bruener, was a seventh round pick in this year’s draft who hopes to stick to the roster. He’ll have to compete with incumbent Mark Robinson, who has shown flashes but has never played consistently enough to be considered for more playing time.

Logjam of talent

With so many familiar names and faces on the roster, the Steelers may keep as many as ten linebackers when the season opens. Watt, Highmsith, Herbig and Sawyer should be the mainstays on the edge with Moon joining the practice squad only if one of the other inside linebackers can earn a special teams role.

Expect Queen, Holcomb, and Wilson to all make the cut, while Harrison, Robinson, and Bruener vie for two of what could be the last remaining three spots in the group. There is an outside shot that all three could make it too.