Steelers superstar T.J. Watt outpacing NFL’s best edge defenders

T.J. Watt has been getting better each year. Here’s why the young Pittsburgh Steelers star is outpacing even the most elite NFL edge defenders.

We all know that T.J. Watt is good; I don’t think there is any dispute there at all. But how good is the rising NFL star edge defender? I recently wrote an article that compared Watt’s statistical production per game to some of the top outside linebackers to ever play for the Steelers.

What I found is that Watt is grossly outpacing legendary players like James Harrison and Greg Llyod in per-game production, and at this rate, he’s going to earn ever Steelers pass rush record in the book.

This sparked a new idea in me. I decided to compare T.J. Watt’s production to the other top edge defenders in the National Football League today. For this comparison, I included who many believe to be the top edge rushers in the league in Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, and Myles Garrett. Here’s a look at how they stack up to each other in terms of per-game production, per Pro Football Reference statistics:

My findings were much like I assumed they would be. After being a Defensive Player of the Year finalist for two consecutive seasons and leading the NFL in sacks, tackles for a loss, and quarterback hits over the past two years, I wasn’t surprised to see that Watt leads the pack in most departments.

Why T.J. Watt is crushing the competition

Statistical production is never straightforward, nor does it always tell the whole tale. If we are being fair, Pittsburgh’s blitz-heavy scheme does help lead to more stats for T.J. Watt, and he sometimes is able to get after the quarterback untouched due to the pressure the defense brings. However, don’t let that take away anything from your assessment of him.

Though Watt does have some low-quality sacks mixed in, he’s still an absolute beast of a football player, and that much is evident from game to game. In addition, the Steelers star defender is asked to drop back in coverage from time to time – something Bosa and Garrett typically don’t do.

The fact that he is easily going toe-to-toe with some of the best pass rushers of this generation is a remarkable feat. Because Watt has been among the healthiest of this group, he’s on an even faster 4-year pace than any of the edge defenders on this list. Considering that a few of these players will end up in the Hall of Fame one day, that’s quite the accomplishment.

In addition to outpacing some of the league’s best edge defenders, Watt continues to outdo himself. Since joining the Steelers in 2017, the two-time All-Pro defender has increased his sacks, tackles for a loss, and quarterback hits steadily in each season, according to Pro Football Reference. Last year, he led the league in two of these three departments.

I know that there are some in the football world who think that Watt is just a product of being on a great defensive scheme that allows him to make plays. However, I would strongly urge you against that line of thinking. Though he does get favorable matchups at times, Watt is a freak athlete with a rare combination of speed and power and this has allowed him to become one of the best edge defenders in the game. If he keeps it up, there will be no one that can outpace him.