It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for a weekly Steelers links roundup at BTSC. But first, let’s take a look around the AFC North:
- Recapping the Ravens’ 2026 mandatory minicamp (Baltimore Beatdown)
- Bengals confirm interest in hosting NFL Draft (Cincy Jungle)
- Brendan Sorsby to Browns? The 3 variables that only the team knows that will decide (Dawgs by Nature)
Now, onto some Steelers news and discussion:
Don’t expect the Steelers to make a bid for Brendan Sorsby in the NFL’s supplemental draft
(From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac): The Steelers already have two young quarterbacks they are developing under coach Mike McCarthy — Will Howard and Drew Allar, who was a third-round pick in April. And they have never used the supplemental draft to select a player.
What’s more, Sorsby’s issues will be a problem
for some teams because of the NFL’s strict policies on gambling.
In a quiet section of the offseason for the NFL, the Brendan Sorsby saga has been the biggest story. Although an intriguing talent, his odds of landing in Pittsburgh don’t seem that high.
Steelers announce 2026 game themes and events
(From Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley): The Steelers Run Walk will be held during Labor Day weekend at Acrisure Stadium. The event benefits the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund and the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research. Fans can Learn more here.
Certain home games for the Steelers in 2026 will have specific themes, sometimes relating to charity of some sort. The list was announced this week.
New contract for Jets star sets market for potential Steelers extension
(From Steelers Wire’s Curt Popejoy): On Monday, the New York Jets announced they were signing star guard Joe Tippmann to a huge four-year, $66.4 million extension. This contract will rank Tippmann in the Top 15 highest-paid guards in the NFL on annual per year salary. Also, $34.9 million of the contract is guaranteed.
A Mason McCormick extension is still comfortably far off for the Steelers, but there’s no denying that even the interior offensive line market is getting spendy. Enjoy Pittsburgh’s young, cheap offensive line room while you can.
5 Goals for Steelers Between Now and Training Camp
(From SI’s Jack Markowski): Get at Least One More Extension Done
Pittsburgh is already ahead of the curve when it comes to locking up its young talent, signing Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington to four-year deals worth $100 million and $42 million, respectively.
The organization would appear far from done on that front, though. Joey Porter Jr. is in position to ink an extension that comes in near the top of the cornerback market, and Keeanu Benton should garner a contract worth somewhere in the low-to-mid teens from an average annual value perspective.
The Joey Porter Jr. extension wait continues as the Steelers enter their “summer break” between OTAs and training camp.
Darnell Washington’s payday signals there will be changes in Mike McCarthy’s offensive scheme
(From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Christopher Carter): McCarthy’s offenses in Dallas deployed three-receiver sets the majority of the time. But asked this week during OTAs how the big contracts for two tight ends could impact how he likes to call offense, he suggested he will be flexible.
“I look at offense really in three categories,” McCarthy said. “You have two-back offense, one-back offense and no-back offense. Your personnel usually is dictated based on your roster.”
Much has been made about McCarthy’s past tendencies in Dallas, but it’s equally as important to see how he’ll evolve to work with the current Steelers roster. The Darnell Washington extension likely signaled a higher usage of 12 personnel, although Pittsburgh can also easily rotate Washington and Pat Freiermuth between plays.
Steelers 10 highest-graded defensive players from 2025
(From Steelers Wire’s Curt Popejoy): 1 – DT Cam Heyward – 90.4
Heyward hasn’t slowed down at all at 37 years old and is still the leader of this defense.
2 – EDGE Nick Herbig – 87.3
Herbig’s big season was rewarded with a massive $100 million contract this offseason.
Even at 36 years old in 2025, Heyward was a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense. And while PFF grades remain divisive, the high marks for Heyward’s still-elite play and Nick Herbig’s efficiency match the eye test.
Who’s the best player on the Steelers defense?
At first glance, it’s a race between Cam Heyward and TJ Watt, as always. But these days, an argument could be made for Joey Porter Jr., who has ascended to the upper echelon of NFL cornerbacks, and maybe even Alex Highsmith, who I’d argue often looked like the team’s best all-around outside linebacker when healthy last season.
Still, I have to go with Heyward as the top player on the defense entering 2026. His value to the team is astronomical, as he’s still comfortably the best defensive lineman on the roster. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2025 (the only Steeler to earn such honors), especially catching fire late in the season. He didn’t blow up the stat sheet like he did in 2024, but still managed 78 total tackles to go along with 3.5 sacks as an interior defensive lineman. And if you watched the games, his impact was clear on every down.
While it’s fair to expect leaps from young D-linemen such as Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, and Yahya Black in 2026, Heyward’s importance to the team will remain high as ever. And although he continues to venture further into his late 30s, there’s reason to believe he’ll continue to be one of the best at his position.
Who do you think is the best player on the Steelers’ defense? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments below!
