For the better part of a decade, Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been used to seeing T.J. Watt's name near the top of every list. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year was considered one of the best defenders in the league for much of his career.
Unfortunately, we recently witnessed what Watt's NFL peers think of his talent these days, and Steelers fans should hardly be surprised.
On Thursday, the NFL Top 100 dropped their latest rankings as they continue to count down to the No. 1 player in the NFL ahead of the 2026 season. Watt landed at No. 41. This is nothing to scoff at, but it's a far cry from where we've seen him in recent years.
No. 41 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@steelers LB T.J. Watt! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/zz6HUukHI7
— NFL (@NFL) July 31, 2026
In fact, Watt dropped 30 spots from his previous ranking on the NFL Top 100 last summer. Here's where the Steelers superstar has ranked by the year:
T.J. Watt's NFL Top 100 ranking by season
- 2017: Unranked
- 2018: Unranked
- 2019: 93rd
- 2020: 25th
- 2021: 9th
- 2022: 6th
- 2023: 27th
- 2024: 8th
- 2025: 11th
- 2026: 41st
Watt's 41st ranking is his lowest on the NFL Top 100 since 2019. While this is still an impressive ranking, given there are over 700 starters around the league, this might even be too high for the player we've witnessed over the past year-and-a-half.
Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt may still be too high on the NFL Top 100
It's not fun to admit when a former superstar player is in decline. But when it comes to T.J. Watt, there's no denying it. The proof is in the pudding.
Watt's numbers—both raw production and advanced stats—have dipped significantly since his 2023 season. Though injuries played a factor last year (he missed time with a punctured lung), he wasn't the same player when healthy.
Watt was a Pro Bowler in 2025 thanks to his reputation only. In 14 starts, Watt recorded just seven sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles. Meanwhile, his 74.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus was his lowest in seven years, and he ranked 32nd in the league at his position.
Watt's pass-rush win rates and pressure rates continue to dip, and the latest data shows that his 'get-off' time when the ball is snapped is quickly decreasing over the past three years.
Watt's ranking as the 41st-best player in the NFL shows that his peers still respect him. Unfortunately, it's hard to argue that he should even be this high on the list after what we've witnessed from the declining star over the past two seasons.
There is hope that this could improve. The Steelers have a new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham, and Watt is healthy and rearing to go. However, the four-time First-Team All-Pro defender will turn 32 years old early in the 2026 season, and his chances of returning to his DPOY form are slim.
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