Are the Steelers underrated entering the 2021 season

The Steelers still boast the best defense in the division, and possibly the NFL.

Despite losing Bud Dupree, Stephen Nelson, and Mike Hilton as free agents this offseason, the Steelers still have the division’s best defense. While these three all played important roles on the defense, the team has options to fill the voids they left open.

Dupree missed a significant portion of last season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 12, and Alex Highsmith did an admirable job filling in during Dupree’s absence. In his second season, Highsmith’s play will only get better, as he figures to serve as a great compliment to TJ Watt at outside linebacker. As for cornerback, Cameron Sutton is a fine replacement for Nelson, after seeing significant playing time both outside and in the slot last season. Hilton may be a little more difficult to replace, but with James Pierre, and undrafted free agent Shakur Brown, the team has talented options to fill that void.

Aside from the capable replacements the team boasts, they have a proven unit, who is getting starting inside linebacker Devin Bush back from injury, after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 5 last season. Bush was selected with the tenth overall pick in 2019, and serves as an integral piece in the Steelers defense, as an athletic interior linebacker, who can blitz, stop the run and play coverage. The return of Bush to a team that already led the NFL last year in sacks, pressure percentage, quarterback knockdowns, and total pressures, is a scary sight for opposing offenses.

Add Bush to a unit that already features Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Heyward, among others, and you have what very well might be the league’s best defensive unit. Both Watt and Fitzpatrick were named to the First Team All-Pro team last year, and Watt also led the league in sacks. Meanwhile, Heyward was named to the Second Team All-Pro team last year and has made the Pro Bowl each of the last four seasons.

Despite a talented division this year, the Steelers remain a serious threat to win the division. Flying under the radar may serve as a benefit to the team, who could use the underdog mentality as motivation this season since many people favor the Browns and Ravens to win the division.