In years past, it has been easy to make the case for as many as six or seven Pro Bowl players on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Just take a moment to think back to when their roster was loaded with players like Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, David DeCastro, Maurkice Pouncey, Ryan Shazier, and Cameron Heyward.
So much has changed since then, and the Steelers have steadily gotten worse in just about every season since going 13-3 in 2017. Now they have some star power at the top, but there aren't many players who you can make a strong case for earning Pro Bowl honors based on their performances in 2023. Here are the only three players who have warranted Pro Bowl consideration this year.
Honorable mention: Alex Highsmith, EDGE
I think Alex Highsmith is an excellent player having the best season of his NFL career. But it's not about comparing Highsmith to the talent on the Steelers roster; it's about comparing him to other edge defenders in the AFC to make a determination as to who belongs in the Pro Bowl.
Obviously, a player like Myles Garrett deserves to get in this year (regardless of how you feel about him). Likewise, Khalil Mack and Trey Hendrickson are both in the top five in sack production this year, while Josh Allen and Maxx Crosby are having career seasons. And that's just the AFC we're talking about.
I think Alex Highsmith is an awesome player, and despite his lack of production with just 6.0 sacks and 7 tackles for a loss entering Week 16, he's having the best season of his career thanks to his consistency and ability to get pressure. But if we are being honest, there are a handful of other AFC pass rushers who deserve to be in Orlando this coming February for the 2024 Pro Bowl.