With the 2025 NFL season kicking off, this is the perfect time to look ahead and predict which players on the Pittsburgh Steelers will make the biggest impact this season. In the past, superstar edge rusher T.J. Watt has been critical to the team's success, while their quarterbacks have held them back.
The Steelers' roster got a serious makeover in 2025, and several newcomers will instantly prove to be some of the most important players on the team. Pittsburgh also has several young Omar Khan draft picks who are entering a prove-it season in major roles that will impact the team's success.
Instead of ranking the top players on the Steelers' roster, I've ranked the 12 players who could prove to be most pivotal to the team's success this year. These rankings are based on talent, investment (both in the draft and financially), and the importance of the position they play.
Ranking the top-12 Pittsburgh Steelers players most important to the team's success in 2025
12. Alex Highsmith, EDGE
Alex Highsmith is better than the 12th-best player on the team, but his assignments are manageable with T.J. Watt drawing the attention. Highsmith is an excellent football player, but the drop-off from him to Nick Herbig isn't significant. Thankfully, the Steelers don't have to choose.
11. Roman Wilson, WR
Surprised to see Roman Wilson on this list? I've got a feeling he's going to do some surprising himself this year. I loved Wilson coming out of Michigan. The number one receiver for a championship program had just a 2.3 percent drop rate as a senior before declaring for the draft, and went on to be the best receiver at the 2023 Senior Bowl.
Wilson's development has been slowed by injuries, but he finally showed the flashes this summer we all hoped to see. The young receiver has just five career snaps and is a huge wild card, but he has the chance to turn into a No. 2 wide receiver for Pittsburgh this year and play a massive role on offense.
10. Joey Porter Jr., CB
After an impressive rookie campaign in 2023, Joey Porter Jr. regressed last season. The young cornerback was even grabbier in coverage, and he needs to do a better job trusting that he's in position to make a play.
Porter was a liability at times last season because of all the penalties, but with more help around him on defense, he could bounce back with a big performance in year three. Even with Jalen Ramsey in town, Porter will be tasked with handling the opposing team's top receiver at times, and his performance could shape the outcome of games.
9. Broderick Jones, OT
There's not a chance I would put Broderick Jones on a top-12 best players list for the Pittsburgh Steelers after watching him in his first two seasons, but the importance of his role is undeniable. Jones will be responsible for protecting Aaron Rodgers' blindside in 2025, and there's nobody to turn to if things go south. His role as the starting left tackle is critical, and he needs to finally turn things around in his third season.
8. Payton Wilson, LB
A great linebacker could make a world of difference, and Payton Wilson has all the traits that could make him a special player in the NFL this year. Wilson is coming off a phenomenal rookie season despite coming off the bench. Now, in what is expected to be a full-time role, the talented linebacker could make his presence felt on any given play. Wilson could easily be this team's best off-ball linebacker since Ryan Shazier, and he's already more consistent than teammate Patrick Queen.
READ MORE: Ranking ex-Steelers set to make the biggest NFL impact in 2025
7. Jalen Ramsey, CB
Jalen Ramsey will instantly play a pivotal role for the Steelers as a Swiss Army knife in the secondary. This year, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin will ask Ramsey to play all over the secondary—boundary cornerback, slot cornerback, and even free safety. Ramsey is up for the challenge, and his performance could determine whether this defense can leap forward in 2025.
6. Troy Fautanu, OT
As the offensive tackle opposite Jones, Troy Fautanu's job isn't necessarily more important, but there's a lot more trust that he will perform well in 2025. Fautanu still gives some ground against the bull rush, but his nimble feet and athletic traits were on full display during the preseason. Offensive tackles are the most important positions on the offensive line, and Fautanu could be in line for a big season.
5. Chris Boswell, K
If we were talking about the overall best players, there's a case to be made that Chris Boswell should be the top name on the list. In 2024, Boswell was the most accurate kicker in the league. His role is still critical to the team's success, but since he plays a fraction of the snaps as every other player on this list, we'll leave him at No. 5.
4. Cam Heyward, DL
Even in his old age, Cam Heyward has shown that he still has plenty to offer. Heyward has been the best run defender on the Steelers' defense for roughly a decade, and that shouldn't change now that he's 36. Eventually, Heyward will need to hang up his cleats, but he's coming off an All-Pro season, and his role on the defensive line is crucial.
3. DK Metcalf, WR
DK Metcalf has yet to take a snap for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but we all know how important he's going to be to the team's success in 2025. Metcalf is the No. 1 receiver (without contest), and the passing game must be able to funnel through him if the Steelers are to find success this year.
PFF's WAR (wins above replacement) suggests that wide receivers are second only to quarterbacks when it comes to a team's success, so Metcalf ranks high on this list. His performance could significantly impact the effectiveness of the offense in 2025.
2. T.J. Watt, EDGE
The importance of T.J. Watt has been undeniable over the years, and we aren't expecting the drop-off to come yet. Watt is a game-wrecking, tone-setter who still can vault the Steelers to one of the best defensive units in the NFL. His days of putting up 20-plus sacks might be behind him, but he's still essential to the team's success in 2025 and one of the last players they can afford to lose.
1. Aaron Rodgers, QB
Nothing in football is more important than the quarterback. This doesn't mean that Aaron Rodgers is the best player on the team, but there's no question he's the biggest key to the team's success this year. With a solid roster around him, Rodgers doesn't need to be the four-time MVP quarterback throwing for 40 touchdown passes, but he needs to be much more efficient than he was last year on the Jets. He's the biggest piece of the puzzle for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.