While the Steelers haven’t had the season that they wanted, they have seen some good performances from these players on their nice list.
The Steelers season has been a disappointment. While struggles were likely given the amount of change this team went through, the consistent failure to field competitive teams and an utter lack of change despite challenges popped up. It has been a rough season all around, and fans are likely looking forward to moving past in 2023.
That said, not everything has been a disaster for this team. While the overall results have been less than stellar, there have been some individual performances that have stood out. These players stepped up to the plate and have earned their keep. Because of their successes, these players have found their way onto the Steelers nice list this Holiday season.
George Pickens has been the guy
Taken in the second round of the draft, the Steelers had high expectations for George Pickens from the start of the season. Add in his incredible training camp and it looked like Pittsburgh had stolen Pickens. He had a slow start to the season, but his play has picked up almost every week since the early portion of the year, and he looks like the real deal.
Despite a lone outburst, the Steelers need to be thrilled with the potential superstar that they have in Pickens. His hands and body control are unmatched, and his route running is getting better every game. He has top-receiver potential and is already playing like the best receiver on this team. He has been incredible for a rookie that missed most of his final season in school, and the sky is the limit for this rookie.
Steelers have had two solid cornerbacks
This one is a bit of a cop-out, but I genuinely believe both Cameron Sutton and Levi Wallace are deserving to be on this list. While neither is a proverbial top guy, both have played well in the secondary and have done their part to stabilize a shaky position heading into the season.
Sutton is having his best season as a pro. He has played primarily on the outside but shifted into the slot in three cornerback sets. He has been a lot more aggressive with attempting to get interceptions and has played extremely sound coverage all season. He has likely earned a significant pay raise in 2023.
Wallace hasn’t been as dynamic as Sutton, but he has been a steady presence along the outside. Injured for much of the offseason, Wallace had a slow start this season. Eventually, he replaced Ahkello Witherspoon on the outside and has since been a solid option to go up against top receivers.
Neither of these guys defacto top cornerbacks but any means, but both are steady and good additions to this unit. I hope both are back next season, as they will provide a stable force in the secondary as the team continues to search for that true shutdown option.
Pat Freiermuth has been a safety valve
While Pickens has provided a lot of the splash for this passing offense, Pat Freiermuth has been the safety valve that whoever is in at quarterback can rely on. No, he isn’t the supreme receiving threat that some top options are, but he is extremely close to there and he is very reliable. He has been a go-to player for this offense regularly.
The big focus for Freiermuth was becoming more of a deep threat. He was used mostly on short passes in his first season, but he has seen his average yards per reception jump to nearly 12 this season. He hasn’t scored as much, but that is more due to the offense as a whole struggling to find the end zone as opposed to just him.
While Friermuth isn’t in the top tight end talks that Travis Kelce is, he is in that next tier with the potential to get close to there in the coming seasons. His hands are extremely reliable, and he has been used in a more creative way this season. He has progressed nicely from his first to second season and has a bright future ahead of him with the Steelers.
Alex Highsmith has taken his game to the next level
Many were hyping a potential breakout season from Alex Highsmith last year following his promotion to starter and his incredible training camp. It never happened though, as the early portion of the year was pretty disappointing, and his play was lacking. He had a strong finish to the year though and looked good heading into year three.
He has taken off this year in a major way and has become one of the best defenders that this team has. He has posted double-digit sacks for the first time in his career. He has also more consistently set the edge and played well against the run. His biggest strength is his array of pass-rush moves though, as he wins off the edge in a variety of ways.
Does he benefit from playing along a line with T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward? Of course, but that doesn’t mean that Highsmith isn’t having a great year. Outside of the two names mentioned before, Highsmith is the only player consistently generating pressure for this defense. It has yielded a huge season for him, and Steelers fans should be thrilled with the play they have gotten out of him.
This season hasn’t played out like many people hoped it would, but the despite the Steelers struggles, they have seen some exceptional play from some players. In particular, these five players have all stepped up to the plate this season and developed into critical options this team can depend on. Because of this, they are easily on the team’s nice list this Holiday season.