3 winners and 3 losers from Steelers 2021 Hall of Fame Game

Steelers winner: The edge rushers

Initially, this spot was occupied by Alex Highsmith alone. I do want to highlight him though, as he was a force that the Cowboys had no real answer to. Sure, he was playing lower-level tackles, but on almost every play he was tearing his way through the opposing line and applying pressure. His pass-rush moves look great and his strong first showing indicates that he should be the front-runner to be the starter next to T.J. Watt

He wasn’t the only good edge rusher though, as Cassius Marsh and Quincy Roche both netted a sack on the day and regularly beat their tackle. This between the two, there is clearly a battle going on for the fourth outside linebacker spot, and if they both continue to play well the Steelers may have to keep five edge rushers. Both excelled in their first game, and both are squarely in the race for that fourth edge rusher role.

Even a relative unknown in Jamir Jones had a solid outing. For a Steelers team that has built up its pass rush into the best in the NFL, this is all good news. Now, the team won’t just have talented starters, but they could also have capable backups. Highsmith was the best of the group (which isn’t surprising), but the unit as a whole easily deserves the team’s game ball due to the regular pressure they provided to the Cowboys.

While there is still plenty of time before the regular season begins, fans have to be happy with the outcome of this game. While the team had a plethora of winners, every player did not have a great showing. These winners and losers will certainly continue to build on their first game as the preseason rolls on though.