The Steelers’ midseason Defensive Player of the Year race never really got out of hand. When the votes came in, the answer was the same across the board: EDGE T.J. Watt.
That makes it a clean sweep for Watt, who has 7.5 sacks and is tied for the NFL lead at midseason. His return to form has been one of the biggest reasons the Steelers’ defense has looked so sharp through eight weeks.
There were other names in the mix. Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Jalen Ramsey, Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson all got mention, and the defense as a whole has been stronger as a unit than one-player dependent. Patrick Graham has that group playing well, and the Steelers are on track to be a top 10 scoring defense for the first time since 2023.
Still, Watt’s production made him the obvious pick. He’s not just piling up sacks; he’s forcing offenses to account for him on nearly every passing down.
He has 25 pressures, 14 hurries, three QB hits, and 19 pressures in true pass sets, along with five sacks, 12 hurries, and two QB hits. However you slice it, he’s still a wrecking ball.
The season has also brought a few notable flashes. Watt recorded his first career pick-six against the Falcons, and his reduced snap count has helped keep him fresh. It’s a usage plan that seems to be paying off, even if you’d always want a player like Watt out there as much as possible.
A few voters tried to make the case for someone else. Jamel Dean was credited with essentially winning the Steelers the Buccaneers game and helping keep the secondary afloat without Joey Porter Jr.
Alex Highsmith has also been excellent. But in the end, the choice kept coming back to No.
Watt already has more sacks through eight games than he did in 14 last year, and he’s back to looking like the disruptive force that made him a Defensive Player of the Year winner in the first place.
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