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The Pittsburgh Steelers are just weeks away from reporting to Saint Vincent College for head coach Mike McCarthy’s first training camp. Plenty of unknowns and anticipation surround this new era. Many expect the offense to take a significant step forward and finally resemble a unit capable of scoring consistently. However, if there’s one group that needs to rebound after a disappointing 2025 season, it’s the Steelers defense.
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Mike DeFabo of The Athletic continued his analysis of the Steelers roster, this time focusing on the defensive side of the ball. Patrick Graham’s unit enters training camp with several key questions. Joey Porter Jr. is approaching a new contract. How will Graham deploy Nick Herbig in the rotation? Which inside linebacker will ultimately be the odd man out?
Here are four players that stood out from DeFabo’s analysis.
Derrick Harmon
“His active hands and quick hips were evident when he was healthy as a rookie. If he stays on the field more often, it could be a big season for the 2025 first-round pick.” DeFabo wrote.
Harmon holds the keys to both the Steelers’ immediate and long-term future, whether he realizes it or not. His rookie season largely matched expectations. He proved to be a stout run defender whose athleticism gives him an incredibly high ceiling. Now, he needs to expand his pass-rush arsenal. The good news is he’ll continue learning from veterans Cam Heyward and Sebastian Joseph-Day.
If Harmon can make the kind of second-year leap Stephon Tuitt once did, it would be a massive boost for the Steelers defense.
Payton Wilson
“The potential green-dot ILB of the future, can he take a step toward being an every-down linebacker this year by improving against the run?” DeFabo wrote.
Wilson has all the talent to become one of the NFL’s top off-ball linebackers. Now he must put it together consistently. Even DeFabo highlighted his immense potential. However, Wilson was also named a bust-watch candidate this week, underscoring the need for more consistent production.
Wilson’s development wouldn’t just elevate the Steelers defense, it could also position him for a lucrative contract. Training camp could reveal just how much progress he’s made since his Week 3 benching in 2025.
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T.J. Watt
“After 19 sacks in 2023, he posted 11.5 in 2024 and 7.0 last season. Set to turn 32 this season, will the Steelers try to manage his reps in an attempt to get more production over fewer snaps?” DeFabo wrote.
A former Super Bowl champion still believes Watt has plenty left in the tank. He also remains a top-10 EDGE rusher in the eyes of coaches, executives, and scouts. Now, he needs to allow Graham to put him in positions to maximize his impact. Watt’s declining production has closely mirrored the regression of the Steelers defense as a whole. He’ll likely be the first to admit he needs to regain his dominant form.
Perhaps Graham’s scheme and tendencies will prove to be a game changer for the former Defensive Player of the Year. If not, Pittsburgh could face difficult conversations heading into the 2027 offseason.
Jamel Dean
“This feels like a potential boom-or-bust addition. If Dean stays healthy, he and Porter could form the best Steelers cornerback tandem in years. However, Dean will also turn 30 in October and has missed 14 games in the last three years due to injuries.” DeFabo wrote.
ESPN recently named the Steelers secondary the team’s X-factor for the 2026 season. It starts with Joey Porter Jr. continuing to establish himself as Pittsburgh’s lockdown corner. Jalen Ramsey is expected to handle the slot, while Dean’s arrival could help the secondary become the standout unit the Steelers envisioned last season. Dean is younger than Darius Slay and fits the physical press-man style that Graham likes to feature. Still, as DeFabo noted, durability remains the biggest concern.
That’s likely one of the reasons the Steelers were able to sign Dean to such a bargain contract. However, if he stays healthy and performs at a level comparable to Porter, Pittsburgh’s secondary could create major problems for opposing offenses.
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This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM.