After a busy offseason by the Pittsburgh Steelers, there are some new faces on the roster and some returning players who have plenty to prove. It will be interesting to see how the veterans take advantage of the opportunities in front of them this season to climb the ranks of the roster.
No, they might not have performed at a high level just yet, but this campaign presents a fantastic chance for them to take a giant step forward.
Fans could be looking at certain players with headlining names to break out this season, but don't look past some other players. You might be monitoring Nick Herbig, Joey Porter Jr., and Payton Wilson to finally become elite players, but there are others on the rise. The Steelers have several young players on offense and defense who could make a massive impact this season if they progress.
Pittsburgh Steelers could see new stars emerge on offense and defense this season
Derrick Harmon
Perhaps it wasn't the strongest rookie campaign on paper for Derrick Harmon, but he showed promise. The 2025 first-round pick by Pittsburgh struggled through injuries during his first year in the NFL, but when he was on the field, he made plays. His best flashes were against the run. Harmon became an immediate catalyst for the Steelers' run defense, with the unit performing much better with him on the field.
As Cam Heyward gets older, the organization would love to find his heir apparent.
They hope that it could be Harmon, and that logic is sound. He is a young piece along the defensive line who should continue to progress as a player. The Oregon product is already becoming a dominant run defender; now he just needs to find ways of applying pressure on the quarterback more consistently.
Zach Frazier
It might not be as much of a shock as others, but Zach Frazier could be primed to have a massive season in 2026. He has steadily become one of the best centers in the NFL, and that momentum doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. With Aaron Rodgers returning, it takes pressure off of Frazier making changes at the line and allows him to focus on other tasks at hand.
This will be a massive year ahead for Frazier as the Steelers will likely start contract extension talks with him following this season. A strong campaign ahead would pour gasoline onto the fire with those negotiations, and his price could continue to rise.
Frazier has yet to make Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors, but with his current trajectory, don't be shocked if he accomplishes at least one of those this year.
Jack Sawyer
Although the odds seem stacked against him right now, Jack Sawyer is someone who could surprise many. He is coming off a rookie year where he didn't accomplish much on the stat sheet, but he also didn't get a ton of opportunities with the players in front of him on the depth chart. Any sort of injury that hits the outside linebacker group will give Sawyer plenty of chances to prove himself.
After a rather bland rookie season, expect Sawyer to get more chances on the Steelers defense. With T.J. Watt and potentially other edge rushers moving around the line, it could create some interesting dynamics on defense. Sawyer was a proven commodity during his time at Ohio State, and with a strong year, it would answer many questions about the future at the position.
Troy Fautanu
An altered offensive line will bring plenty of change to the Steelers this season. Troy Fautanu will be flipping from right to left tackle with hopes that he can become the elite blindside blocker Pittsburgh has been searching for.
This change of positions is bad news for Broderick Jones, who continues to work his way back from a serious neck injury without a return date in sight.
When it comes to Fautanu, if he finds a way to become as good, if not a better left tackle than he was last season on the right side, then he would be a success. The Steelers are counting on a successful flip for the player, and if he does well, he should expect a lot of money sent his way. Fautanu could save Pittsburgh from a lot of headaches if he can pull this off.
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