Pittsburgh’s Week 1 defense is reimagined around six new starters, with Loudermilk stepping in for Heyward as the anchor up front and a reshaped secondary led by Ramsey, Slay and Thornhill. Watt and Highsmith form the edge duo, while Queen and Wilson patrol the middle, complemented by a retooled back end featuring Porter Jr. and Thornhill. The unit leans on speed and versatility to pressure Zach Wilson and throttle the Jets’ passing game from the start, keeping the scoring ceiling high for fantasy defenses.

The secondary’s youth comes with upside and risk, as Slay, Ramsey and Porter Jr. bring playmaking and length, but their cohesion will be tested early. Thornhill provides range at free safety alongside Elliott at deep safety, creating a flexible, hybrid look on nickel. On the defensive line, Harmon’s debut in the rotation, Benton’s interior presence, and Loudermilk’s length inject disruption behind an upgraded linebacking corps. This group projects as a solid Week 1 fantasy play with a real chance for sacks, turnovers and a stout run stop.

From a fantasy perspective, Week 1 figures to be a grind-the-stats matchup for the Jets, with Pittsburgh's revamped front seven and savvy defensive backs posing frequent challenges. The Steelers’ mix of veteran leadership and youthful athleticism offers a high floor for tackles and a ceiling for big plays, especially with Watt and Highsmith teeing off. The new-look secondary can generate interceptions and pass deflections, heightening fantasy upside in a low-scoring affair.

The Steelers’ two-game dress rehearsal has left three key units up for grabs as Week 3 looms. Cornerback behind the marquee trio remains unsettled, with Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., and Darius Slay occupying the top spots and a cast of young backs vying for meaningful snaps. At wide receiver, Calvin Austin III’s injury opens a wide-open competition beyond DK Metcalf, with several youngsters flashing in the preseason and veteran Robert Woods trying to find a place among them. Up front, the offensive line is a study in youth—the pair of starting tackles, Fautanu and Jones, each logged only 10 snaps, leaving big questions about the group’s readiness. With one more preseason game left, the depth charts for these three positions could swing in multiple directions.

Fantasy managers should monitor practice reports and third-party notes closely: the cornerback depth chart could shift quickly if a reserve steps up, the WR rotation could tilt toward veteran savvy or breakout youngsters, and the O-line’s continued cohesion will be the swing factor for any run game or quick-pass offense. The narrative is clear—unsettled but ripe for opportunities, especially for those who can seize snaps in the final tune-up.

The Steelers countdown to kickoff hits 24 days until Pittsburgh faces the Jets at MetLife, and No. 24 has a fresh face in Joey Porter Jr. Porter, the 32nd pick in 2023, has emerged as one of Pittsburgh’s most dependable lockdown corners and a key piece of a growing defensive perimeter. Fantasy players should watch how Year 3 unfolds for JPJ as he settles into a prominent role in a defense that values press-man coverage and opportunistic plays.

The piece traces the No. 24 lineage in Pittsburgh, listing the recent wearers: Porter Jr. (2023–present), Damontae Kazee (2022), Benny Snell Jr. (2019–2022), Coty Sensabaugh (2017–2018), and Justin Gilbert (2016). Ike Taylor is highlighted as the best No. 24 in Steelers history, a cornerstone in a storied era. The article blends roster history with current depth, signaling JPJ’s trajectory and the franchise’s continued emphasis on defensive versatility.

Taylor’s legacy anchors the piece: a fourth-round pick in 2003, he evolved into a steady outside cornerback, racking up 14 interceptions across 174 games and earning two Super Bowl rings before retiring in 2015. The narrative weaves franchise lore with modern depth charts, framing Porter Jr.’s ascent within an iconic No. 24 tradition while nudging fantasy owners to monitor how Steelers cornerbacks accumulate targets and turnovers in 2024.

Terry Smith’s cornerbacks room at Penn State has become a defining asset for the program. Since 2014 he’s built a pipeline that develops three- and four-star recruits into NFL-caliber playmakers, drawing talent from across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Connecticut, California and Pennsylvania. A.J. Harris’s Georgia transfer signals the room’s pull and the value of Smith’s development-first approach. The current top six corners span across SEC and ACC footprints, with Audavion Collins and Jalen Kimber adding SEC experience to the mix. Jim Knowles has praised the unit’s playmaking depth and culture, underscoring that the room is a real strength of PSU’s defense. Penn State’s success in drafting corners—Joey Porter Jr., Daequan Hardy and Kalen King among the recent names—illustrates Smith’s enduring impact and the program’s appeal to elite cornerbacks. If Harris hits a high ceiling, PSU could produce one of the league’s premier defensive back corridors for years to come, a development that also informs fantasy and betting angles around PSU’s defensive upside this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp kicked off with significant excitement, especially with the addition of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. During the first practice, Ramsey showed his versatility by participating in both cornerback and safety drills, highlighting the Steelers' innovative approach to their defensive strategy. Head coach Mike Tomlin expressed his intention to keep Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Joey Porter Jr. on the field simultaneously, which could lead to a dynamic defensive setup. This positional flexibility could enhance the Steelers' defense, making it more adaptable to various offensive schemes.