The start of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular season is right around the corner. It’s a new-looking roster with plenty of headline names. At least, ones who were five years ago. Digging one layer deeper, here are five X factors who must play well for the Steelers to have the success they’re looking for. Names beyond the obvious stars like T.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers, and DK Metcalf. Because their importance is duh.
LT Broderick Jones
Jones has been under the microscope the entire offseason. Expectations of a former first-round pick, the first under GM Omar Khan, with the additional pressure of protecting a soon-to-be 42-year-old quarterback. Jones must refine his technique, lock in on his assignments, and showcase the talent that made him a top pick and a player who flashed during his rookie season.
Jones will face a slew of top pass rushers this season. Starting with the New York Jets’ Will McDonald this weekend, to the Minnesota Vikings’ Jonathan Greenard, Green Bay Packers’ Micah Parsons, and two helpings of the Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett, and Baltimore Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy. There are no days off on Jones’ calendar.
If Jones doesn’t step up, his fifth-year option will likely be declined, and part of the 2026 conversation will center around finding a new left tackle. Picking him borders on the low-hanging and obvious fruit, but there’s no getting around his importance to the offense and team.
WR Calvin Austin III
Austin had his summer derailed by an oblique injury that prevented him from logging much time with Aaron Rodgers. He has to catch the moving train in a hurry as a playmaking No. 2 receiver in the Steelers’ offense. It doesn’t have to be high volume. Austin doesn’t need to catch 70 passes, and he almost certainly won’t. Can he maintain the big-play rate of a year ago? All five of his touchdowns were 20-plus yards, including his 77-yard punt return.
Pittsburgh’s wide receiver depth chart isn’t teeming with talent, but it features plenty of speed. That must be used this season, which means big plays from Austin as a receiver and in the return game. Similar can be said for Roman Wilson, but Austin has the longer NFL resume and enters with higher expectations.
DT Keeanu Benton
Another third-year player entering a key year. Benton’s been healthy and durable, but the production hasn’t matched a second-round pick. Two sacks in two years for an athletic, pass-rushing defensive tackle simply isn’t good enough. Benton’s generated pressure, but hasn’t finished enough plays, and Cam Heyward can’t provide it all while Derrick Harmon is set to miss the start of the year due to an MCL sprain. The need for Benton to play well is overshadowed by Heyward, Harmon, and rookie Yahya Black. Benton will play more than the rookies and might log more snaps than Heyward, who, at 36, will have his workload managed to stay effective late in the season.
Pittsburgh finished last year with just 40 sacks, an abysmal number for the Steelers’ high standards. It takes a team to do that, but Benton must play his role.
CB Brandin Echols
Pittsburgh has a strong top-three at cornerback, even if that trio has questions to answer. Echols is the underrated fourth name backing up the outside and slot spots. Inevitably, an injury will press Echols into starting-level action. He must respond. Even when the Big Three are healthy, Darius Slay won’t play every single snap. In moments when Jalen Ramsey shifts outside to shadow a top opponent, like the Jets’ Garrett Wilson in Week One, Echols may take the field in Slay’s place and align in the slot.
Cornerback depth is always needed to get through a season. Echols can make plays in coverage, but will have weighty matchups on potentially equally weighty downs throughout the season.
S Juan Thornhill
Thornhill has flown under the radar even after vaulting into the free safety spot once assumed by Minkah Fitzpatrick. Thornhill had an active and impressive training camp, but it’s fair to wonder if he’ll thrive quite as much during the regular season. Pittsburgh doesn’t need him to be the secondary’s biggest playmaker, but Thornhill must be a steady tackler who plays top-down and doesn’t give up big plays. Let the cornerbacks be aggressive and ballhawk. Thornhill has to let them make plays and provide cover over the top.
