If there's one player on the Pittsburgh Steelers who has been the epitome of consistency in recent years, it's Cameron Heyward. When he entered his 30s, fans quickly learned not to underestimate the ageless wonder. And when he turned 37 in May, we didn't think much of it. After all, this is Cam Heyward we're talking about.
Unfortunately, we could be quietly witnessing the end of Heyward's dominant run in Pittsburgh, and he may be discreetly passing the baton to the players who may just be in the process of passing him by.
In the first two weeks of the season, we've really only mentioned Heyward's name when he's batted down passes—something he's still spectacular at. But entering Week 3, Heyward has hardly been the most talked-about or the best Steelers defensive lineman.
Against the Patriots in Week 2, Heyward was blown off the ball a few times while tallying one pressure and one tackle on 41 defensive snaps. His underwhelming and almost non-existent performance resulted in a dismal 47.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. His 39.5 run defense grade against the Patriots was even worse.
Through two games and 73 defensive snaps (35 pass rush reps), Heyward has combined for just two pressures and four tackles, per PFF [$]. But as the veteran finally shows signs of aging, his predecessors are starting to take form.
Pittsburgh Steelers DTs Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon are improving as Cameron Heyward is declining
Let me be clear: it's only two games of September football. We've learned never to doubt this man, and he could very well rebound with a spectacular season. However, early in the year, it already looks like fellow Steelers defensive tackles Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon are starting to surpass Heyward on the field.
And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
In two games under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Keeanu Benton has been nothing short of spectacular. Though there are a few viral clips of the young defensive tackle getting blown off the ball, Benton is playing the best football of his career.
Benton ranks third among all NFL interior defenders with an 89.8 overall grade, per PFF. His 91.5 pass-rush grade through two games is notably better than players like Dexter Lawrence, Quinnen Williams, and Jeffery Simmons—three players widely considered the best in the league at the position.
The film matches the grade. Benton recorded three pressures in the Patriots game alone, and this came on just 17 pass-rush snaps. But the 25-year-old isn't the only young Steelers DT starting to outpace Heyward.
Pittsburgh's 2025 first-round pick, Derrick Harmon, is finally starting to come into his own. Harmon showed a lack of a pass-rush plan in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, but he really ramped up this part of his game in Week 2 when he recorded four pressures, a sack, and two stops on just 32 defensive snaps (16 pass-rush snaps). All the while, Harmon has shown impressive run-defense ability at the point of attack.
Again, Heyward has more than enough talent to make me eat my words, and I will put nothing past him or what he's capable of—even at 37. However, it's already starting to look like the Pittsburgh Steelers will be in good hands with Benton (25) and Harmon (23) as the future of the defensive line.
Cam Heyward isn't going anywhere in 2026, and he will still be a major part of the Steelers' defensive line rotation. However, his dominant run as a Pro Bowl- and All-Pro-caliber defensive lineman might finally be coming to an end.
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