A look at six players who will be scrutinized and on the proverbial hot seat when training camp begins Thursday for the Pittsburgh Steelers:
T.J. Watt
Dissatisfaction with his contract caused Watt to skip mandatory minicamp, but he and the team agreed to a three-year contract extension Thursday that made him the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL. That avoided a holdout, or hold-in, for the franchise’s career sacks leader. The deal is a four-year, $144.05 million contract that runs through the 2028 season.
Watt’s salary bump to the top of the edge rusher earnings list isn’t the only reason he tops this list. He didn’t record a sack in each of the final three games of the season, and he didn’t register a single tackle — or any other stat — in the final two games, including the playoff loss in Baltimore.
Watt gave no indication that he was playing through an injury, and his disappearance from the stat sheet was attributed to the double teams and chips he constantly receives. It also raises questions about whether Watt, who turns 31 in October, is on the downside of his career.
Although Watt’s 11.5 sacks led the Steelers, they were his fewest in a full season since 2017 when he was a rookie. Watt also had just two sacks in the final six games, counting postseason.
DK Metcalf
Not since Antonio Brown was traded after the 2018 season have the Steelers had such a high-profile and high-salaried player lead the wide receiver corps.
The Steelers sent a second-round pick to Seattle to acquire Metcalf, who averaged 73 catches, 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns in six seasons with the Seahawks. Then, they gave Metcalf a five-year contract worth $150 million, the richest deal in franchise history.
Metcalf will be tasked to step up and lead a group that is minus George Pickens, who was traded to Dallas in May.
Jaylen Warren
When Najee Harris exited in free agency after four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Warren was elevated to a starting role. Although the Steelers drafted Kaleb Johnson in the third round, Warren figures to have the edge heading into training camp.
The former undrafted free agent must avoid the slow start he had in 2024 when he had just 54 rushing yards after three weeks, then missed two more games because of injury. The Steelers are counting on Warren to play more frequently on first and second downs until Johnson shows he is capable of handling a larger workload.
Broderick Jones
Since trading up four spots to select Jones with the No. 14 overall pick in 2023, the Steelers patiently have allowed him to develop on the right side of the offensive line.
In his third season, the training wheels are off for Jones, who will return to his natural position at left tackle. The Steelers allowed Dan Moore Jr. to walk in free agency because they had Jones waiting in the wings.
Jones reported to offseason workouts looking leaner and quicker than in previous years, when he struggled with the nuances of playing right tackle. Jones is getting a fresh start at left tackle, and he realizes it is time to start turning his potential into production on a young offensive line.
Jones also has financial incentive to play well since the Steelers must decide whether to exercise his fifth-year contract option after this season.
Juan Thornhill
Signed to a one-year contract to fill the third spot at safety, Thornhill finds himself in a more prominent role after the trade that sent three-time All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami. Thornhill could be first in line to take those snaps at free safety given his history playing the position in Cleveland and Kansas City.
A second-round pick in the 2019 draft, Thornhill had four productive seasons in Kansas City before he signed a three-year contract with Cleveland. He was released by the Browns in February after two unproductive seasons.
After gathering eight interceptions and breaking up 20 passes in four seasons with the Chiefs, Thornhill had zero interceptions and four pass breakups in two seasons with the Browns. He also missed 12 games combined because of injuries.
The Steelers gave Thornhill a lifeline in March, and he gets a chance to get his career back on track — perhaps even replacing Fitzpatrick.
Alex Highsmith
The Steelers wouldn’t mind seeing an uptick in productivity from Highsmith this season.
First, Highsmith must remain healthy for a full season. He missed three games because of a groin injury in the first half of last season, and he sat out three more in the second half with an ankle issue. In 11 games, Highsmith totaled six sacks and 13 quarterback hits, his lowest totals since becoming a starter in 2021.
Highsmith is signed for three more seasons, and his contract carries an $18.6 million salary cap hit this year. A return to a double-digit sacks season – he had a career-best 14.5 in 2022 – would be welcomed by a defense that all too often has relied on Watt to pressure the quarterback.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
