The Pittsburgh Steelers barely made the playoffs and some good performances by these players surprised many.
The Steelers made it into the playoffs during their 2021 campaign and that alone is a major accomplishment for this group. They went through a bunch of trials and tribulations before the season ended. It took things to go their way so they could make the tournament for the prized Super Bowl trophy.
The team made it into the dance with a 9-7-1 record as the seventh seed in the AFC. It was a tough road that saw them win three of their last four games. With help from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders, the black and gold clinched the last playoff spot up for grabs.
This season has seen some highs and other times where there were extreme lows. Early in the season, this club was 1-3 to start the year before bouncing back. They lost very important games, barely emerged victorious in others, and were even blown out a couple of times.
It has been a crazy story for Pittsburgh and some players had rough years while others were shocking surprises. The good surprises outweighed the bad for the most part and that gave them a chance to get into the postseason for another year. It was not pretty but the team was able to overcome just enough to make it.
These players on this list were good surprises that helped the team more than many may have thought of before the start of 2021. Rookies, veterans, and new additions helped by stepping up and playing a major role in this squad. They were able to be positive contributors to the efforts of the team.
Dan Moore Jr., Offensive tackle
Dan Moore Jr. was a fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was labeled as a project coming out of Texas A&M as the Steelers looked to rebuild their offensive front on the fly. Moore had some up and down games from time to time during his rookie season but he did show growth throughout the year.
A project coming out of college was a fair label but those projects are meant to continue their progress of growth in the NFL. Thus far, Moore has done that as he gets better at the left tackle position for the Steelers. He started rocky but has become steady as the season begins to wind down.
One of his stronger performances came against Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns during one of the final stretch games of 2021. He was able to practically eliminate the constantly demolishing pass rusher. Garrett was not able to get to Ben Roethlisberger all game and that was due to the solid play of Moore.
His grades by pro football focus are not the strongest overall but his play over the last handful of games has been solid. He is a bright spot for the future of this offensive line as a potential longtime starter at either tackle spot. Moore is a player with a very high ceiling at the moment and should be a solid part of this offensive line’s foundation moving forward.
Chris Wormley, Defensive lineman
Chris Wormley might be one of the biggest shocks to emerge as one of the better players on this roster. Before this season, he was the fourth-best defensive lineman on this team. Injuries played a big factor in Wormely getting a huge promotion onto this defensive front.
Tyson Alualu was lost very early in the season and Stephon Tuitt was gone from the team entirely. Wormley was turned to and he never looked back. He was solid against the run and showed some quality flashes as a pass rusher. He totaled seven sacks this year in a breakout performance.
It was a huge output that no one was expecting. Losing both Alualu and Tuitt so early on this season could’ve completely decimated this front but Wormley stepped up and showed how much depth this unit has when healthy. If he can produce this in a limited role next year and continue to show his ability then he will get a huge payday.
He still has another year under contract with Pittsburgh in 2022 and for a bargain deal. He played his way into a bigger role next time around no matter who is healthy or not. It is crazy to think how this player was almost expendable this time last year and many wondered if he would even be brought back or replaced in the draft.
Ahkello Witherspoon, Cornerback
Ahkello Witherspoon joined the Steelers after the team acquired him via trade from the Seattle Seahawks. The marriage between him and his new team started rocky early into the season and until after the LA Chargers game. He did not get much playing time until they faced the Chargers on Sunday night.
That was mostly because it takes a while to learn a new system and play starting football for a new club without having any time. He got time and the coaches wanted to give James Pierre a shot at holding the starting spot. The club had too many injuries and Covid issues so they had to play Witherspoon against the Chargers.
The secondary got completely obliterated in that game but after that things caught on for this player. He is one of the best-graded cornerbacks across the league and the best on the black and gold. He has been a constant for this team that has had some issues in the secondary of the defense.
Many expect him to be brought back instead of Joe Haden as both will head into this offseason looking for new deals. Witherspoon has had a solid stretch run but his production has only been for less than half a season. He will need to continue that and Kevin Colbert will need to decide if that upside is worth a gamble on a new deal.
Terrell Edmunds, Safety
Terrell Edmunds was an odd surprise when he was selected in the first round of his draft year. Many thought he wouldn’t be selected until the third round but Pittsburgh felt confident enough to pick him. He has had some struggles at points in his career and Edmunds has taken a lot of flack. But once Minkah Fitzpatrick joined, this player has gotten better every year.
Perhaps it is the Fitzpatrick effect but Edmunds has been solid for this club over the past two seasons. There are better strong safeties in the NFL but not much more. He has been getting better in coverage and plugging holes in the run when called upon.
This is another player going into an offseason looking for a new deal and the black and gold need to find a way of keeping him. There are not any upgrades available out there so this team needs to find a way to keep this safety tandem intact. They are a solid duo and things won’t get much better if the club looks for a replacement.
This has been one of Edmunds’s best seasons in the league and that is a great response after the team that drafted you declined your fifth-year option. He has been able to play well enough to get paid this offseason, either by his current employer or another franchise. He has been a nice surprise as he continues to get better the more he plays in the NFL.
Pat Freiermuth, Tight end
Pat Freiermuth was one of the standout performers of the 2021 draft class. Najee Harris and Dan Moore Jr. had huge impacts on this team but Freiermuth might have the best career out of the three. He is the deadliest target at his position since Heath Miller played for the Steelers.
He is a big target that has come along as a blocker, especially for the run. He has been able to show why the team picked him in the second round over addressing other needs. Perhaps that argument is still out there if that was the right choice but Freiermuth has been silencing the doubters consistently.
Many should have expected this player to do well in the NFL after looking at his dominant career at Penn State. He is a big body that could’ve been a first-round selection if he wasn’t hurt during his final college season. He has the talent and has shown it during his rookie year.
He should continue to get better as his NFL life continues further and his potential as a leader for the future of this club is there as well. He put up solid numbers during his rookie campaign that included seven touchdown receptions. His physical style and ability to bulldoze anyone will make him a fan favorite for years to come.
The Steelers had an up and down year but these players stood out in a positive light. Each one of them made good contributions to this team in 2021.