
Only 1 Steeler makes top 2025 NFL players list by jersey number
CBS Sports recently created their Top 2025 NFL Players by Jersey Number list — and the Steelers have just one inclusion: unsurprisingly, No. 90 T.J. Watt.
Here's what CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin had to say about the lone Steeler defender's inclusion:
"Much like Watt's brother, J.J. once owned No. 99 as a Texans force, T.J. now reigns supreme with No. 90, setting the standard for strip-sacks as the undying pressure artist of Mike Tomlin's Steelers defense."
Several other big-name Steelers were discussed in the rankings, such as Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Rodgers, and Cameron Heyward — but were passed over in favor of No. 5 Jayden Daniels, No. 8 Lamar Jackson, and No. 97 Nick Bosa, respectively.
It's debatable that other Steelers like D.K. Metcalf at No. 4 or DeShon Elliott at No. 25 should've been included on the list, but this should serve as more motivation for what's shaping up to be a roster ready to compete for a Super Bowl.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chiefs 'Team To Bet Against' Prediction Turning Heads
Chiefs 'Team To Bet Against' Prediction Turning Heads originally appeared on Athlon Sports. If there is one team in the NFL that has earned the benefit of the doubt after a blowout loss in the Super Bowl, it's the Kansas City Chiefs. Advertisement After back-to-back titles, the Chiefs fell short of achieving a historic three-peat, and as such, many are now suggesting the dynasty is at an end; however, we aren't so quick to dismiss the current AFC champions. While from the outside, the Chiefs might have lost a little aura after the Philadelphia Eagles showed them a clean set of heels, they still possess some firepower that means come playoff time, some teams will want to avoid them. As such, The Athletic's Jacob Robinson thinks that while a regression might be coming, folks should write off the Chiefs at their own peril. "They might not win 15 regular-season games again, but Rashee Rice's return, their left tackle competition and overall focus on fixing the offensive line suggest to me that the combination of Reid, Mahomes and Spangoulo is one you still won't want to see come playoff time," Robinson writes. "Will Travis Kelce's likely last dance end in a Super Bowl? I'm skeptical, but this isn't a team to bet against." Advertisement Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick MahomesMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Rashee Rice is back, Marquise Brown is back, and Travis Kelce will have a burning desire to prove that he still has juice in the tank. Those are three key weapons that should provide more for Patrick Mahomes and the offense. ... and we say this bunch is still going to be turning heads in 2025. Additionally, the addition of Elijah Mitchell and Brashard Smith will provide an injection of speed in the run game, complemented by the hopeful prospect that the offensive line can protect far better than it did last season. This combination gives reason to be optimistic about the Chiefs' prospects this season. For some, that isn't enough to allay fears that Kansas City might be about to fall off a cliff. Advertisement To that, we say, until we see if happen, it's as you were for Kansas City in the AFC. Related: Chiefs Critics Foolishly Wonder If Patrick Mahomes Has 'Peaked' Related: Chiefs' Rashee Rice Faces Shocking New Lawsuit in Breached $1 Million Settlement Allegation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Cowboys well-rounded coaching staff means opportunistic rushing attack
The Dallas Cowboys want to rush the ball more in 2025. The question these days is how exactly they plan on doing so. Newly minted head coach Brian Schottenheimer has a history of inside zone, and with the investments made in the Cowboys interior offensive line, one could reasonably assume it will be a major part of the future. New offensive coordinator Klayton Adams brings inside zone schemes to table as well. His time running the Arizona Cardinals offensive line shows he employs a more balanced variety of blocking schemes on his offense, but inside zone leads the pack. Conor Riley, the Cowboys' new offensive line coach, is in a similar vein to Adams. Riley leans on inside zone most, but also uses his fair share of other schemes to round out his attack. It's worth noting Adams and Riley both use less outside zone than Dallas ran last season, and both run high degrees of pulling and counter plays. This well-rounded offensive coaching staff has laid enough breadcrumbs over the years to give a fairly solid indication as to what to expect from the Cowboys ground game in 2025. They like big personnel packages like 12 and 13 personnel (2TE and 3TE packages) and they like athletic linemen who can move. Most importantly they appear to like diversity in their play calling. Their familiarity with various running concepts make them more adaptable than most. If the Cowboys' young offensive line is better in some concepts than they are others, Schottenheimer, Adams and Riley are able to adapt to play to the strengths of the line. It just so happens the Cowboys running back room also supports such adaptability. Consisting of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jayden Blue, Phil Mafah, Hunter Luepke and Deuce Vaughn, there is no clear RB1 the scheme must fit. Who gets the carries in 2025 could come down to which RB best matches the Cowboys' best blocking scheme. In general, NFL offenses are all fairly diverse in their run blocking schemes. It's important to mix it up to keep defenses playing honest. But the Cowboys' specific trinity of coaches indicate their rushing attack is particularly diverse and particularly focused on developing and discovering the strengths of their linemen. It explains the modest investment in the RB position this offseason and explains why Tyler Booker was the first draft pick they made in April. The Cowboys invested heavily in offensive line-focused coaches this offseason and it should pay off in efficiency and resiliency. You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 Observations From Penguins' Prospect Development Camp
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect development camp. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) After five days, development camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins has finally reached its conclusion. And - although it's, generally, hard to pull anything definitive from this camp - there were some nuggets here and there that could offer a bit of a glimpse into the Penguins' future. Advertisement Between a few camp standouts and a larger pool of talent in general, there was a good bit more buzz surrounding development camp than there has been in years prior. Coaches, media, and fans got their first look at the 13 players from the 2025 draft class in action, and there were also some camp veterans who showed signs of growth from last year's event. Suffice to say, there was a bit more of a competitive aspect to camp that has, maybe, been more so lacking in years past. "Everyone here is competing for a spot," said Will Horcoff, who was drafted 24th overall by the Penguins this year. "Everyone's super competitive, so it's making everyone better. If everyone gives 100 percent effort - which they are - things will get a little chippy, and that's great. Without that, you aren't getting any better, so I think it's great that everyone competes hard." Here are five observations from Penguins' development camp. Dubas May Have Sought Quantity In This Year's Draft. But That Doesn't Mean He Missed On Quality. Dubas May Have Sought Quantity In This Year's Draft. But That Doesn't Mean He Missed On Quality. In the aftermath of every NHL Draft, the analysis always comes due. Harrison Brunicke looks pro-ready Harrison Brunicke. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) There was a lot of buzz surrounding Brunicke, 19, both before development camp and during. And for good reason. Advertisement Of course, development camp isn't the tip-top level of competition and ferocity that training camp is, so it's worth noting that the expectation was for a player like Brunicke to stand out among the rest. Brunicke - captain for Team Patrick - was also set to return for his second development camp, which is one more than many of the players in attendance. That said, he really did show that he was just a slight level above everyone else at this camp. During game two of the tournament on Monday against Team Johnston, the 6-foot-3, 202-pound blueliner sniped a shot from the slot with the extra attacker and 8.9 seconds on the clock to force a shootout, which would determine who got the chance to move on to the final. What Is The Best Developmental Path For Top Prospect Harrison Brunicke In 2025-26? What Is The Best Developmental Path For Top Prospect Harrison Brunicke In 2025-26? For 19-year-old Advertisement Pittsburgh Penguins' defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke, it is only a matter of time. After Ben Kindel (Team Patrick) and Cruz Lucius (Team Johnston) scored on their attempts - and Will Horcoff (Team Johnston) had missed on his - Brunicke capitalized on his with a pinpoint snapshot to the glove side to seal the deal, as Oliver Tulk was stopped on Team Johnston's third attempt. I already wrote a piece on how Brunicke has limited options - juniors or NHL - next season due to his AHL and NCAA ineligibility. I asked Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos about the AHL ineligibility rule and if it presents any developmental challenges for a player in Brunicke's position - one who is, likely, ready for the jump to professional hockey. Advertisement 'I think so. That's a good question," Kostopoulos said. "I think it's something that the league should look at, because he's probably played his way out of junior hockey and might be ready for a step up. I'm not in charge of those rules, but you're probably right." Brunicke will, very obviously, be one of the biggest stories to watch in training camp, as he nearly made the NHL roster last season as an 18-year-old. We'll see what happens on the trade front for the Penguins the rest of the summer, too, but don't discount the possibility of Brunicke at least getting the nine-game trial. Keep an eye on Will Horcoff Will Horcoff. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) If there was one name brought up almost as much as Brunicke's it was Will Horcoff's. Advertisement The Penguins' 24th overall pick in this year's draft was the youngest player in the NCAA last season, when the 6-foot-4, 190-pound center put up four goals and 10 points in 17 games for the University of Michigan. During camp, he was noticeable in a lot of ways. He cut around defenders without much issue, his skating was smooth, and he scored a few slick goals - including two in Monday's tournament for Team Johnston - that really put his soft hands and his skill on display. When I spoke with Horcoff Sunday, he said that the goal at development camp was to see how the pros train. Given how young he was relative to his NCAA peers last season, it's fair to assume that picking up on some of the habits of Pittsburgh's veterans will only help him get better and, hopefully, be even more productive for Michigan next season. Advertisement "I got to see Sid a couple days ago," Horcoff said. "He was out on the ice by himself, then he was in the workout room by himself, so just seeing how hard he works, I can take something away from that to bring back to Michigan." Many fans scoffed at the Horcoff pick as a reach. While it's way too early to be making any kind of judgment call on that, there seems to, at least, be some legitimate talent there. Reaction: Penguins Take Will Horcoff As 24th Overall Selection Reaction: Penguins Take Will Horcoff As 24th Overall Selection After a long night of anticipation, the Pittsburgh Penguins made what is presumed to be their final draft selection in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Camp just keeps on growing… and so does the Penguins' developmental staff Penguins' Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) One of the topics that was touched on Monday during Kostopoulos's second media availability of camp was the growth of development camp as a whole. Advertisement There were 52 invites to camp this season - including the four injured players in Tanner Howe, Luke Devlin, Maleek McGowan, and Zam Plante - which is more than the Penguins have ever had at this event. Kostopoulos credited the Penguins' scouting department and his developmental staff, who identified some of the undrafted and collegiate talent that received invitations. But he stressed that a lot of the credit goes toward the actual growth of the developmental staff as a whole, which is something that GM and POHO Kyle Dubas mentioned during the draft. The ability to invite more players directly correlates with both the influx of talent in the system and the team's ability to accommodate those players through sheer numbers. 'My staff is amazing,' Kostopoulos said. 'The development staff is fantastic. I feel like the L.A. Dodgers. I've got a lineup full of overly qualified people that I can use to send out to visit our prospects, that I can use in Wheeling, Wilkes-Barre, and Pittsburgh. 'I think that ownership and management has built out a ton of resources available to players that can only help them. And, if the players are willing to use that to help them develop, that's where we're seeing growth in some of the players. It's been a lot of fun to watch the growth in the staff, then resulting in helping the players develop.' Penguins Prospects Development Camp: Day Four Recap Penguins Prospects Development Camp: Day Four Recap We finally got to see some scrimmages between the top Advertisement Pittsburgh Penguins prospects during development camp on Sunday, and they didn't disappoint. Several players, including one from yesterday's session, had solid days and will look to make an even bigger impact during Monday's tournament. Dubas, Spezza, and co. will have some tough decisions on the blue line Joona Vaisanen and Emil Pieniniemi. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) If one thing is for certain about this Penguins' prospect pool, it's that they're pretty loaded up on the back end. Dubas said that the organization likes where it's at in terms of defensive prospect depth, and it's easy to see why. Guys like Brunicke and Owen Pickering tend to dominate the headlines - which makes sense, as they are - as of now - the two closest to NHL-ready with the highest ceilings - but other players like Emil Pieniniemi, Finn Harding, Kalle Kangas, and Chase Pietila are primed to turn pro next season. There are also the 2025 draftees in Charlie Trethewey, Quinn Beauchesne, Peyton Kettles, and Brady Peddle, as well as other signees in Daniel Laatsch, Joona Vaisanen, and David Breazeale. Advertisement With all of that defensive depth, the Penguins are going to have some decisions to make regarding their rosters in not just the NHL, but also the AHL and ECHL. Some players are still juniors-eligible - with Brunicke and the draft class topping that list - while others, like Vaisanen, will likely return to the NCAA. There are going to be some battles for roster spots during training camp, and it's a good problem for the Penguins to have. They may not have a generational blueliner - or even a surefire top-pairing guy - waiting in the wings, but they certainly have enough prospect talent that the depth on their blue line should not be an issue for the foreseeable future. It will be fun to see how all of that unfolds over the next few seasons. With Breadth Of Positional Depth In The System, Penguins' Defensive Prospects Eager To Take Next Steps With Breadth Of Positional Depth In The System, Penguins' Defensive Prospects Eager To Take Next Steps When Advertisement Pittsburgh Penguins' Prospect Development Camp began on Thursday, 48 players took the to the ice - some for the first time in black and gold, others returned to a familiar place. The Penguins have more organizational talent than they've had in a long time… and people are noticing Quinn Beauchesne. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) I might be stating the obvious here, but there is more prospect talent in the Penguins' organization than there has been since the very early years of the Sidney Crosby era - perhaps, even longer. And it's clear that fans are excited about it. I covered training camp last season, and there were more fans in the building on Monday for the tournament than there were for some of the training camp days. I normally don't have any trouble finding a parking spot at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, but I had to park in the overflow lot. Advertisement When the NHL team isn't getting the results fans want to see, it's natural for folks to look ahead to the future. And it was evident throughout this camp that there may, indeed, be a brighter future to look forward to. The 2025 first-rounders - Kindel, Horcoff, and Bill Zonnon - each stood out in their own respective ways and at different times. Brunicke is a draw for fans. I heard people talking about Trethewey, who is a product of the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program. Beauchesne - drafted in the fifth round (148th overall) - did not at all look like a fifth-rounder throughout this camp. There is a lot to like about the current Penguins' prospect pool and its direction, and fans should be excited to look ahead to the next generation of Penguins' hockey. 'We're Thrilled With The Players That We Have': 3 Takeaways From Penguins' Day One Draft 'We're Thrilled With The Players That We Have': 3 Takeaways From Penguins' Day One Draft Day One of the 2025 NHL Draft is officially wrapped, and the Advertisement Pittsburgh Penguins were certainly one of the more active teams in the first round. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more! Feature image credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News