The Steelers have been well represented at the Pro Bowl in recent years and that trend should continue this year.
The Pro Bowl for the upcoming season is currently in question now. The latest game was something that many spectators really did not enjoy. It was a two-hand touch game that saw none of the players display any real physical attacks on each other.
It has gotten stale as the game itself has slowly turned into a walkthrough of a game that refuses to allow the players to hit each other. It makes sense as these players are here to collect a paycheck and potentially have their family on vacation. Getting hurt at this point of the year would be terrible for a player and the franchise that they play for.
The game of football is meant to be physical and what the NFL has done for their all-star game has not been good enough. The fact some of the top players cannot participate because of the Super Bowl already puts the league behind the eight ball, let alone the actual product displayed during the game itself. No matter if the game is played or another way to celebrate these players will be done with some of these names being involved for the Steelers.
T.J. Watt will go back to the Pro Bowl for the Steelers
Let us get the obvious one out of the way as T.J. Watt will continue to get elected to this event throughout his career. His ability on the football field is amazing and something that most of the players cannot replicate. He will be in the Pro Bowl or whatever event that the NFL re-envisions in the future.
He will be gunning for back-to-back Defensive player of the year awards at the end of the season and that will lead to many individual accolades. Watt is no stranger to the Pro Bowl as he has been elected to the event many times in his young career. He always puts on a show during the game, despite the level of play usually being subpar.
Cam Heyward will keep his trend of going to the event alive and well
Cam Heyward has been one of the best defensive linemen to play for the franchise. He is a leader that has only been getting better with age. The Steelers need him now more than ever since Stephon Tuitt decided to call it a career recently.
Heyward has some younger faces that will turn to him when it comes to learning the ropes. Luckily, this veteran has the knowledge and ability to show these younger players the way of doing things. He is not a coach, and tutoring others is not expected of veterans, but Heyward has special qualities.
He has been starting to get noticed around the league some more in recent years. This happened after many seasons of Heyward being severely underrated in the NFL, even though many would argue that he still is. Time and time again he proves that he is one of the best players at his position.
He went to the Pro Bowl last season, which continued a long stretch of him representing the Steelers in the event. He is the perfect player that the franchise loves to have represent them at things like this. He deserves more recognition, but he should get back to the Pro Bowl yet again after this season concludes.
Diontae Johnson should have a big year for the Steelers
Diontae Johnson is a polarizing figure for the Steelers in 2022 as many do not know what his future holds with the club. He is entering a contract year and the club has not seemed to have offered a good enough contract to come to terms. The receiver is a good number one option for a solid offense in the NFL, despite him having some flaws in his game.
He will get paid by either Pittsburgh or another club if he hits the free agency market. He is a difference-maker, but some cannot think of him in that way. This player will need to continue to show his abilities on the football field to get paid by this franchise.
There is no Ben Roethlisberger anymore so that could always affect all these weapons on offense. That could be bad news for Johnson if he cannot secure a new deal with the club and his numbers drop in 2022. He should still be able to find holes in opponents’ defenses no matter who is slinging the rock.
Despite some uncertainties on offense, this player should still get some good numbers for the season. He will get paid one way or another and should be back in the Pro Bowl after making it last year as well. These types of elections get you paid the big bucks and that will be no different with this player.
Najee Harris should improve his stats from his rookie season
Najee was a nice injection of youth into this running game that was on life support just a year prior. He was able to make the most of his rushes and turn something into nothing. The offensive front that blocked for him last year did nothing to help his case.
He was still able to do well enough to get to the Pro Bowl last season. It was an impressive start to his young career wearing the black and gold. Year two seems like it should be primed for Harris to have a bigger role in the Steelers offense.
With a new quarterback in the system, this back might get more attention to have the offense run through him. That on top of no other standout runner to give this player some breaks. Harris could have a giant impact in the stat department when it is all said and done this year. He made something out of nothing last year and the offensive front improved since 2021.
He should get some better blocking in front of him this season and that will make his job easier. It won’t be an All-pro front, but they are better than what Harris played behind as a rookie. That should give him even better stats and a shoe-in to make the Pro Bowl if there is one.
Minkah Fitzpatrick should make the Pro Bowl as he looks for a new contract
Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the best at what he does in the NFL. Since coming over from the Miami Dolphins, this player has continued to show why he was worth the first-round pick that the Steelers gave up. He will be showing up for this team extra this season as he continues to look for a new contract.
That deal will get done with due time just like T.J. Watt’s deal did recently. Fitzpatrick still had a good 2021 season, despite him not having as great numbers as others. He will look to get his turnover numbers back up to when he first joined the black and gold.
This safety did not make the Pro Bowl in 2021 even though he still had a solid season. The fans vote off turnover numbers and that is why he was not elected. He will look to get those back up as that is how the defense helps carry a bad offense, which the Steelers have been struggling with for a while now.
If Fitzpatrick can get his turnover stats up, then he will create a locked-up spot in the Pro Bowl. Teams know all about him and hate to throw in his direction, but they might get more uncomfortable and start making mistakes. Pro Bowl or not, the franchise needs to lock-up this player to a long-term contract.
The Steelers should be well represented at the Pro Bowl after the 2022 season concludes. They have talent and that should lead to a weekend that many fans will look forward to.