Steelers' TJ Watt's Top 100 Players Ranking Is Hilarious

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had only two players land on the 2023 version of NFL+ top 100 players list so far with one more expected (Minkah Fitzpatrick). Cameron Heyward and the former AP Defensive Player of the Year, TJ Watt received recognition. Heyward landed himself at No. 45 (came in at No. 42 in 2022) and it was revealed on Wednesday that Watt had been ranked No. 27 for 2023. This leads many to believe, who is better than Watt? 

The 2023 ranking of Watt on the top 100 players looms the question, who will be ranked above him? Meanwhile, we have yet to see the player people most compare Watt with: Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett. Watt has been beat out by Garrett before despite having better stats compared to Garrett almost every year. With Watt coming in at 27, and no sign of Garrett, we can infer that Garrett has once again been ranked higher than Watt. We can blame this on Watt's misfortune with injuries in 2022. Watt was primed for another great year before he went down with an injury, missing almost half of the 2023 season. 

Steelers' TJ Watt Slowed By Injury 

During the 2022-2023 NFL season, Watt's season would be cut in half after suffering a torn pectoral muscle Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers would win the matchup with the Bengals, 23-20 in overtime, but strongly due to the defensive effort which was led by the one and only Watt. In this matchup, Watt had three tackles for loss, one sack and one interception before going down with his injury late in the fourth quarter. 

TJ Watt's Impact Missed 

After the Week 1 win, the Steelers defense would spiral. Without Watt, they would lose the next six of seven games. The defense would allow over 25.3 points per game, as well as allowing an average of 389 yards per game. It's safe to say, the Steelers defense needed Watt to function properly. Watt is a "one in a million" type of star that doesn't come around often in the NFL and the 2022 season just further proved how much of a role Watt plays in the Steelers team success. 

Watt would make his return to the lineup in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints. To no surprise, the Steelers were victorious versus the Saints (20-10). Going into the back end of the season, the Steelers seemed to be "reborn." They would go 8-2 to finish the campaign off, losing only to the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. 

Following the Saints victory, Steelers cornerback, Levi Wallace was questioned by the media. Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had asked Wallace what the main difference was between defensive play with Watt on the field vs. him not on the field. Wallace showed praise for Watt. 

"Each and every play he's doing something. He's affecting every play, disrupting so much. You can feel his presence when he's out on the field."

Wallace revealed just how much Watt meant to the defense. Watt's energy is contagious throughout the locker room and during the games. Watt is able to have an impact even on plays he doesn't make a tackle or sack on. When teams face the Steelers, they have to specifically plan against Watt, making sure he doesn't single-handily change the outcome of the game. Yet, when teams do this, they allow other players on the defense to shine as other playmakers are forgotten about. 

Was Watt's Ranking Bad?

Furthermore, the ranking of No. 27 for Watt isn't bad considering he missed half of the season. In the 10 games Watt appeared in, he would still rack up 5.5 sacks as well as 39 total tackles. Watt plays a huge role as the Steelers defense often looks lost without him in the lineup. Watt is a game-changer and will eventually go down as one of the Steeler greats. Until then, Watt will continue to terrorize offenses all over the league until he retires. 

Does SteelerNation believe Watt should be ranked higher in this year's NFL top 100 list? Or was Watt ranked fairly based off of his injury plagued 2022 season. Leave your thoughts down below in the comments!

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