The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of the dead time in the 2026 offseason. This is the time where players prepare to head off to training camp, but the news cycle is relatively slow as very little moves are made in the weeks leading up to players reporting to the various locations around the country. One of the things that is paid attention to during this time of the year is the top-10 lists that are put out by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. These lists are not just compiled by Fowler, but they are compiled after he speaks with countless executives, coaches, and scouts around the league.
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Steelers pass rusher TJ Watt talks with long-time defensive leader Cameron Heyward as the two enjoy a day off during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA..
Fowler puts out a list for each positional group, and the Steelers did not have a ton of representation on them heading into the 2026 season. A lot of that has to do with the age of the roster, but some players were also done wrong by the list. A player that should have been recognized that was not was Cam Heyward. The veteran defensive tackle is coming off of back to back All-Pro seasons, yet he still isn't recognized around the league as a top-10 player at his position.
Fans were upset when this list initially came out. It had Heyward listed in the "players also receiving votes" section, which is a step below Honorable Mention. This was completely disrespectful for a guy that was an All-Pro in each of the last two seasons, and Fowler dropped an article on Friday that cleared some things up. He described what he heard from those around the league that kept certain guys out of the top-10, and people spoke on Heyward's production.
"Heyward is still a good player, but his sacks and QB hits fell by more than half from 2024 to 2025." Fowler wrote. "The 37-year-old is eight sacks away from clearing 100 for his career."
Heyward recorded eight sacks back in 2024, and he recorded just 3.5 in 2025. Despite the lower sack numbers he still made a clear impact on each and every game, and he was constantly pushing the pocket from the interior to create pressure.
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Steelers' Cam Heyward gets ready to make a play during Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns.
Heyward is one of the older players in the NFL, which makes it even more impressive that he is reaching a sort of second prime. He has consistently been recognized as one of the best at his position, aside from these league-wide polls that ask the decision-makers around the league where to rank him.
The irony of Heyward not being seen as a top-10 defensive tackle is that four are chosen each season for the two All-Pro teams, and Heyward has been one of those four in each of the last two seasons. These predictive lists are clearly wrong as he continues to produce on the gridiron to prove he is one of the best in the league.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) before a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, ะะ.
Steelers Need Cam Heyward To Continue Defying The Odds
To put it simply, Heyward is not supposed to be playing at the level that he has been. He is 37-years old and he has shown no real signs of slowing down. The sack numbers fluctuate, but he is constantly in the backfield and he is always making plays against the run. He is a critical piece of the defense and one of the biggest leaders on the roster, and he is going to be a pivotal piece of the team's success in 2026. He also inked an extension earlier this offseason, so he could be back for 2027 as well.
What do you think of the explanation for excluding Heyward from the list? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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