The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best football players on the planet in edge rusher, TJ Watt. The 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year has been a menace since being drafted by the organization in the first round back in 2017. Somehow, it still feels like he is underrated, even though he tied Michael Strahan's single-season sack record with 22.5 in 2021. He has especially been left out of the spotlight throughout the 2023 offseason because he missed nearly half the 2022 season due to a torn pectoral muscle.
Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (#90) stretches prior to a practice during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Watt finished the 2022 campaign making 10 starts and he had 39 tackles, 12 QB hits, eight tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions. In the two years prior, he led the NFL in sacks with 15 (2020) and 22.5 (2021), respectively. He has quite literally been the best defensive player in the world and the only one who should be considered ahead of him is Aaron Donald because of what he has been able to do and accomplish.
On Friday, Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated ranked the top 10 best defensive linemen/edge rushers in the entire NFL. Thankfully, Watt made the list, but he shockingly was unable to crack the top five. He landed at #6 on the list despite being incredibly consistent and having the most sacks in the league since the Steelers drafted him in 2017.
Micah Parsons and Aaron Donald are both dominant, but neither is the top-ranked player on @GManzano24’s list of the NFL's top 10 defensive linemen https://t.co/sByNLIPMMq
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 5, 2023
Criticizing Manzano for not including Watt in his top five isn't a knock on the other players. Chris Jones, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, Donald and Nick Bosa rounded out the best five in the writer's opinion. Realistically, Watt belongs in the top three, let alone the top five. He has been dominant on a more consistent basis than most of these guys and missing seven games in 2022 should not be held against him.
Steelers pass rusher, TJ Watt (#90) gets ready to line up for a snap against the Baltimore Ravens during a 2022 regular season game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Watt has been elected to the Pro Bowl five straight seasons (even in 2022), made the All-Pro Team three separate times and finished in the top three for AP Defensive Player of the Year each year from 2019-2021. It seems a bit egregious to not put him ahead of Jones, Garrett and even Parsons at this point in time. If he were ranking the best 2022 seasons, Watt may not even belong in the top 10, but Manzano's title declares that he is ranking the best defensive linemen in the NFL right now.
The Steeles star edge rusher has said recently that he is evolving the way he trains in the offseason to avoid injuries. The common misconception surrounding Watt is that he is often injured and that's not the case. He started 77 total games in his first four seasons with the max being 81. One of those absences was because of Head Coach, Mike Tomlin's decision to rest him during the team's final game of the season.
The good news for Steelers fans is that the force off the edge seems to be healthy entering Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and should be back to peak form in 2023. Manzano could very well regret this list come October when Watt is the favorite to be the Defensive Player of the Year once again. If he remains healthy, he's without a doubt going to be one of the top five best defenders in football, not just in the defensive line category.
Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt prepares to enter the backfield and go after Detroit Lions quarterback, Jared Goff during a 2021 regular season game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Best Player Deserves More Respect
Watt deserves more respect and is oddly still underrated. Opposing teams are aware of his prowess, but it seems like the national media is forgetting about him a little bit. The Steelers having him back and 100% healthy for 2023 should instantly change that narrative.
Do you think Watt is underrated? What are your thoughts on Manzano's rankings? Let us know in the comments below!
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