Latest news with #CameronHeyward
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ranking the 10 best Steelers headed into OTAs
As things stand right now, just days before the start of the Pittsburgh Steelers' OTAs, a case could be made that Pittsburgh has at best the third-best roster in the AFC North and could be the worst roster in the division. Pittsburgh's roster has been turned over on some level for the past four seasons but the team still can't seem to find the right mix of draft picks and free agents to get back to prominence in the AFC North. We've gone over the current Steelers roster and as we tried to rank the 10 best players on the team and it wasn't easy. As we broke it all down and sorted out the 10 best players, there were two players we couldn't in good conscience put on the list. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and quarterback Mason Rudolph missed the cut despite being at the most important positions on the team. Advertisement Here are our Top 10 Steelers currently on the roster: 1 - EDGE T.J. Watt Despite a down season in 2024, Watt is still the team's best player and we only hope he can bounce back in 2025. 2 - DT Cameron Heyward The ageless wonder had one of his best seasons in 2024. 3 - C Zach Frazier Absolutely elite young center who started 15 games in 2024 and is poised to be the next great Steelers center. 4 - K Chris Boswell Never exclude the Steelers best scoring threat from any list. We could have easily put Boswell at No. 1 on this list given his value to the team. 5 - WR DK Metcalf It says a lot about the Steelers issues on offense when Metcalf is ranked this high, having never played a snap for the Steelers yet. 6 - TE Pat Freiermuth You can't punish Freiermuth for the fact his coaches and quarterbacks can't figure out how to get him the football. 7 - CB Joey Porter Jr. If Porter could have built off his rookie season in 2023, he'd have been ranked much higher. 8 - EDGE Alex Highsmith We continue to root for Highsmith to take that next step and become an elite edge rusher. 9 - LB Patrick Queen By the time we got here, it was really down to Queen, Fitzpatrick and Harmon. We put Queen here but any of the three would make sense. 10 - DT Derrick Harmon Including a rookie on this list is more of an indictment of the Steelers roster than a positive for Harmon. We could have put running back Kaleb Johnson here just as easily. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers roster: Top 10 players headed into OTAs
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals' heated rival comments on Trey Hendrickson standoff
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson showing up at practice and giving a 20-minute interview about his contract drama with the team commanded the attention of the NFL. That includes direct rivals such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, who probably aren't all that upset about the standoff between the NFL's sack leader and a team that can't afford to be without him. Advertisement Steelers star Cameron Heyward even joked about the situation when asked on an episode of "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward" recently. "They don't have enough money," Heyward said. "I dare you to go pay him." RELATED: Cincinnati Bengals 2025 game-by-game predictions following schedule release If nothing else, it speaks to the perception of the Bengals right now nationally. The longer the Hendrickson drama continues, the more the goodwill from paying up big for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins fades. It's not that simple, of course. The Bengals agree Hendrickson is underpaid and want a new deal for him. But he's under contract for one more year after signing a recent short-term extension and has threatened holdouts and retirements in past years that haven't come to fruition. The fact he's 30 years old throws more leverage to the team, as he's unlikely to sit out. But apparent promises about contract extensions and a lack of communication from the team has turned things ugly, publicly. Advertisement As always, it's on the Bengals to sort matters like these out to steer public perception in better directions. But until then, rivals and everyone else will have their say like this. RELATED: Bengals schedule release: Quick thoughts on primetime games and more This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' heated rival comments on Trey Hendrickson standoff
New York Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The future of the Steelers' D-line begins to take shape at rookie minicamp
PITTSBURGH — On Thursday afternoon, Steelers first-round pick Derrick Harmon entered the team facility on Pittsburgh's Southside to find his new locker. Whether it was an intentional decision or pure coincidence, the new defensive tackle was assigned a spot right next to starting nose tackle Keeanu Benton and just a few places away from veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. Advertisement That position in the locker room is an appropriate visual for the place Harmon holds in the Steelers' plans. For a team that wants to win football games by dominating in the trenches, upgrading along the defensive line was a major priority this offseason. The Steelers double-dipped on defensive linemen on draft weekend, selecting Harmon in the first round and Iowa defensive lineman Yahya Black in the fifth. In the short term, Harmon should step into a role similar to where he is in the locker room: on Benton's left in the base defense. Years down the line, when Heyward eventually retires, Harmon will be counted on to be part of the youth movement that helps lessen the blow. '(Benton and I) have been talking since I got here,' Harmon said. 'He's a nice teammate to have. He came from the Big Ten like me, so we know how ball is.' The evolution of the defensive line took its first steps when Harmon and the rest of his draft class participated in the first day of rookie minicamp Friday. When the Steelers drafted Harmon, coach Mike Tomlin said that the defensive lineman has 'Steelers DNA.' After his first taste of Steelers football, Harmon agrees. Mike Tomlin said after Derrick Harmon was drafted that he has 'Steelers DNA.' Harmon on why he's a fit: 'You've got to have some grit to be in this organization. You've got to have an edge to you and you've got to play with a little bit of pride to you. I feel like that's me.' — Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) May 9, 2025 'You've got to have some grit to be in this organization,' Harmon said. 'You've got to have an edge to you and you've got to play with a little bit of pride to you. I feel like that's me.' With former starting defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi gone, there's a high probability that Harmon immediately steps into a starting role from Day 1. The Steelers will count on his diverse skillset and first-round pedigree to make an impact on all phases of the defense. Advertisement Against the run last year, the Steelers were actually one of the better teams. Over the entire 17-game slate, they allowed the fifth-fewest yards per carry (4.1) and the sixth-fewest rushing yards overall (98.7 per game). However, down the stretch and against quality rushing offenses, the results weren't nearly as impressive. In three of the final five games, the Steelers allowed 100 rushing yards or more, including 131 yards to the Eagles and 220 yards to the Ravens in back-to-back games. Baltimore also racked up nearly 300 rushing yards in the Steelers' one-and-done playoff appearance. Considering Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson aren't going anywhere (and Heyward might be in a couple of years), the Steelers needed to think about the future of their defensive front. At the same time, it's not all about stopping the run. From 2017 to 2021, a span of five seasons, the Steelers led the league or were tied for the league lead in sacks. However, over Teryl Austin's three-year tenure as defensive coordinator, blitzing has declined as the Steelers have often relied on four rushers to create pressure on passing situations. Partially as a result, a team that was once the standard for getting to the quarterback is now closer to league average, finishing 14th in 2022 (40 sacks), 11th in 2023 (47 sacks) and 16th last year (40). If the Steelers again want to limit their blitzing, they'll be counting upon Harmon to provide a push upfield. After leading FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures last season, the rookie should be well-equipped to contribute in that area. His familiarity with four-man fronts at Michigan State and odd fronts at Oregon also helps the transition process and provides evidence that he can be a factor on run or pass downs and in different personnel packages. Advertisement 'Coming from Oregon, they throw everything at us,' Harmon said. 'I was in the NFL at Oregon. I feel like I'm right there. They prepare us very well for this.' As an added benefit, the Steelers also plan to play Harmon alongside T.J. Watt, which could help create more opportunities for the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. '(I'm looking to) just to help my team out,' Harmon said. 'Just to get to work with my team. Be a good rookie and find that vet to get under his wing and learn this game, because it's a whole different game than college.' As Harmon takes his first steps into the NFL, he's doing so with a heavy heart. While Harmon was hearing his name called during the draft, his mother, Tiffany Saine, was on life support. Harmon rushed to the hospital to tell his mother the good news. Unfortunately, that was their final conversation, as she passed shortly after. Steelers first-round pick Derrick Harmon on dealing with the loss of his mother as he begins to live out his NFL dream: 'I'm doing the best I can.' — Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) May 9, 2025 'I'm doing the best I can right now,' Harmon said. 'I'm in football now. I'm in my element. I got my mind off a few things, but I'm OK.' The emotional high of fulfilling a lifelong dream and the weight of the loss create a challenging moment for a young player with promise. 'I'm still dealing with it,' Harmon said. 'I don't know. I'm just putting one foot in front of the other really.' (Top photo of Derrick Harmon: Brooke Sutton / Getty Images)
