The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off their second-straight blowout win (something we don't get to say very often). After running away from the Raiders in Week 6, the Steelers had even more success against the Jets with Russell Wilson at the helm on Sunday Night Football.
This has been an encouraging performance as a team, but there are individual performances worth recognizing as well. We all know the impact stars like T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward make. These players have numerous personal accolades already attached to their names.
In 2024, the Steelers have seen breakout performances, and these players are trending toward earning the first Pro Bowl honors of their NFL careers.
DeShon Elliott, S
It's hard not to be impressed by what Deshon Elliott has offered the Steelers in the first half of the 2024 season. The veteran safety is already proving to be a steal of a deal from the contract he signed during the 2024 offseason.
Elliott has been a speeding missile in Pittsburgh's secondary who has been outstanding in run support. But Elliott isn't just a one-trick pony. The impressive safety has been sound in coverage this season as well.
There's a case to be made that Elliott has been the best safety in a Steelers uniform this season. While Minkah Fitzpatrick has been rock-solid, Elliott is running step-for-step with the All-Pro and is deserving of his first Pro Bowl honors in 2024.
George Pickens, WR
In terms of yards, George Pickens is on a nearly identical pace as the one he saw during his breakout campaign in 2023. But things are about to get better.
Now that Russell Wilson is leading the charge, Pickens' stats could jump through the roof. The talented receiver has already developed strong chemistry with his new quarterback, and Wilson isn't afraid to loft some 50/50 balls his way -- knowing his receiver is more than capable of coming down with the catch.
With some strong wide receiver Pro Bowl candidates in the AFC, cracking the Pro Bowl won't be easy. However, the question has never been about the talent. If Pickens' production continues to progress at this rate with Wilson, he could be earning Pro Bowl honors by the end of the season.
Zach Frazier, C
It doesn't help that Zach Frazier has missed time early in his first season. But when he plays, the results are undeniable. Frazier, a second-round pick out of West Virginia, has been outstanding when on the field and is one of the top-graded centers in the NFL.
The impressive rookie is set to return after Pittsburgh's bye week. If the Steelers keep running the football well, Frazier could establish himself as the next great center in a line of many who have walked through this building.
Frazier lives to drive defenders into the turf, and he's playing at a Pro Bowl level. He could establish himself as one of the best in the game at his position by the end of his rookie season.