The Steelers have one of the top defenses in the NFL throughout the past several seasons. They will walk into the 2021 season a bit differently than they looked in 2020 after losing some key defenders in Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton, and Steven Nelson. The organization plans to roll with Joe Haden and Cam Sutton as their starting cornerbacks and Alex Highsmith as their starting outside linebacker opposite of TJ Watt. They will need to find a good slot cornerback to help replace moving Cam Sutton outside in 2021, but the Steelers overall should be younger on the defensive side of the ball than they were a season ago.
CBS recently released their Top 25 NFL players under 25 and two Steeler players landed on their list. Minkah Fitzpatrick was listed as their 13th best overall player in the NFL under 25 and Chase Claypool as their 24th best overall player in the NFL under 25. I believe CBS snubbed Minkah Fitzpatrick out of the top-10. He is a shut-down Safety who completely controls an entire side of the backfield just by himself. In 2020 he had 64 total tackles and 4 interceptions. He was only targeted 18 times and allowed only 7 receptions in the ENTIRE 2020 season. It doesn't get better than that.
Chase Claypool had himself one heckuva rookie season. I think Claypool could be moved down a bit lower, but I will give CBS the benefit of the doubt as he has only played one season in the NFL. I believe if Claypool can stay healthy he will become a superstar in Pittsburgh and be ranked among one of the most dominant wide receivers in the NFL going forward.
The future is bright for the Pittsburgh Steelers as their roster is loaded with young talent. The organization just has to find their quarterback of the future and they need to do it soon because Ben Roethlisberger has only a few seasons left with the organization before he rides off into the sunset.