Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt make Pete Prisco’s Top-100 NFL players list

Pittsburgh’s defense received a fresh spotlight on Wednesday, when CBS Sports veteran columnist Pete Prisco released his annual Top-100 NFL players list and included two Steelers in the final group. The Steelers’ representatives were defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and edge defender T.J. Watt, who were each described in the ranking as part of the league’s elite.

The inclusion of Heyward and Watt underscores how the Steelers’ identity is still closely tied to their defensive front. Heyward, a veteran interior presence for Pittsburgh, plays a pivotal role in how opposing offenses are forced to operate, particularly in run situations where leverage and gap control can shape an entire drive. Watt, meanwhile, anchors the Steelers’ edge pressure responsibilities, where creating disruptive plays often starts with sustained pressure rather than single moments.

Prisco’s list is built as a leaguewide evaluation of impact and quality, and getting two players onto the same Top-100 compilation is rarely happenstance. It suggests that, in the columnist’s view, Pittsburgh’s defensive production is not reliant on just one standout. Instead, the Steelers are represented across two different defensive “lanes,” with Heyward’s interior work and Watt’s edge threat combining to form a more complete picture of the team’s defensive ceiling.

For Steelers fans, the recognition lands in the offseason, when the focus shifts to preparation and the order of operations for the next season. Awards, accolades, and independent rankings like this one do not change the standings by themselves, but they can influence how expectations are framed inside the organization and across the league. When two starters from the same unit appear on a national list of the best players, it tends to reinforce the idea that the defense remains a core strength entering the new campaign.

There is also a broader NFL context to consider. National rankings often reflect how players project against high-level competition, not just how they perform in isolation. A defensive tackle and an edge rusher being paired on the same Top-100 ballot is consistent with how many top defenses are built: one player helps stabilize the middle of the field while the other turns pressure into negative plays in the backfield and on the edges.

Still, the list is subjective by design. Prisco’s Top-100 is one analyst’s evaluation rather than an official league metric, and without additional detail on where each player landed on the ranking, it is best read as recognition of standing and reputation rather than a precise measure of season-by-season ranking order. What matters next is whether Pittsburgh can translate that reputation into consistent defensive performance once the next season’s games begin.