Pittsburgh’s edge rushers have shown a high ceiling and a few health bumps through four games. Watt surged in Weeks 3–4 with three sacks, 10 tackles, and big-impact plays, silencing early-season concerns. Highsmith started strong in Weeks 1–2 before an ankle sprain sidelined him, leaving the door open for Herbig’s breakout run. Rookie Jack Sawyer has steadied the run and contributed in bursts as the group navigates a crowded room. The evolving rotation shapes both real-world defense and fantasy upside for the rest of 2025.

As the Steelers head into the bye, the combination of Watt’s elite talent, Herbig’s surge, Sawyer’s situational contributions, and Highsmith’s return will determine sack floors and leverage in upcoming matchups. Expect Pittsburgh to lean on a flexible, multi-weapon approach that can spike sack totals in favorable downs and create consistent tackle floors for IDP and fantasy units.

Derrick Harmon has emerged as the Steelers’ standout rookie through four weeks, delivering a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass deflection that led to an interception in just two games. His bursts have coincided with Pittsburgh’s strongest defensive stretch this season, signaling real fantasy upside in IDP and DFS if his role grows.

With the rest of the rookie class quiet and no Steelers on the quarter-season All-Rookie list, the bye week becomes a pivot for development and clearer roles. Dynasty managers should monitor Harmon’s snap count and impact plays as the 17-game slate unfolds, while the other rookies jostle for usage behind him.

The Steelers sit at 3-1 as the bye week arrives, with their 2025 rookie class already making noise. Derrick Harmon has become a steady force on the defensive line, while Jack Sawyer and Yahya Black have flashed in limited action. Two late-round rookies look to rejoin the fold soon—Will Howard and Donte Kent—ahead of Week 6 against the Browns. Howard’s return could lock in the third quarterback role, and Kent would bolster a secondary in need as Ramsey heals.

Meanwhile, Cory Trice Jr. looms as a potentially disruptive outside corner when healthy. The bye buys Pittsburgh time to reintegrate key pieces and sharpen the defense around a developing group that includes Harmon, Sawyer, and Black, with Rodgers and Rudolph mentoring Howard as the rookie QB eyeing a larger role. The coming weeks will test how these rookies reshape Pittsburgh’s ceiling late in the season.

Pittsburgh added Jack Sawyer in the fourth round, and the Ohio State rookie has flashed in a limited role. In four games and 65 snaps, he’s tallied 14 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, 3 pressures, and 4 stops. PFF ranks him 15th among rookies with a 72.9 grade and a 14.3% win rate on 28 rush attempts, flagging his early promise as a potential rotational asset and future starter.

With Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig anchoring the edge, Sawyer’s emergence could unlock more sub-packages and lift Pittsburgh’s pass‑rush ceiling. A larger role this season would boost fantasy value in dynasties and offer late-season redraft upside if the young defender continues to develop.