Just like that, the calendar has moved quickly to the cusp of July.
Once that calendar flips, it means NFL training camps are right around the corner. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, report date in Latrobe is set for July 28, so there’s just over a month between now and that exciting day at Saint Vincent College.
Knowing that, we roll along here at Steelers Depot, focusing on our annual summer series Ranking The Steelers’ Starters. I rank the projected starters — including kicker and punter — from No. 24 to No. 1.
In case you missed No. 24-22 to No. 15-13, you can view those here:
Ranking The Steelers’ Starters: No. 24-22
Ranking The Steelers’ Starters: No. 21-19
Ranking The Steelers’ Starters: No. 18-16
Ranking The Steelers’ Starters: No. 15-13
Here is my projected Steelers starting lineup, kicker and punter included, for the regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
*Italics indicate the player has been used in the series.
OFFENSE
QB — Aaron Rodgers
RB — Jaylen Warren
WR — DK Metcalf
WR — Michael Pittman Jr.
WR — Germie Bernard
TE — Darnell Washington
LT — Troy Fautanu
LG — Mason McCormick
C — Zach Frazier
RG — Spencer Anderson
RT — Dylan Cook
DEFENSE
DE — Cameron Heyward
NT — Keeanu Benton
DE — Derrick Harmon
OLB — Alex Highsmith
ILB — Patrick Queen
ILB — Payton Wilson
OLB — T.J. Watt
CB — Jamel Dean
CB — Joey Porter Jr.
S — Jalen Ramsey
S — DeShon Elliott
SPECIAL TEAMS
K — Chris Boswell
P — Cameron Johnston
Here’s how the Ranking The Steelers’ Starters series looks so far.
No. 24 — Cameron Johnston, P
No. 23 — Germie Bernard, WR
No. 22 — Spencer Anderson, RG
No. 21 — Dylan Cook, RT
No. 20 — Keeanu Benton, NT
No. 19 — Payton Wilson, ILB
No. 18 — Patrick Queen, ILB
No. 17 — Jaylen Warren, RB
No. 16 — Darnell Washington, TE
Now that you’re caught up on the list through No. 13, it’s time to dive into the next part of the series, looking at No. 12-10 today.
No. 12 — JALEN RAMSEY, S
His first go-around with the Steelers was an up-and-down rollercoaster ride for Jalen Ramsey. He started out at cornerback, played a lot in the slot early in the season, then moved to safety with injuries piling up. Ramsey looked good for stretches at the new position and helped clean up some of the major communication issues, but his play fell off late in the year.
Now, with a new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham and secondary coaches Joe Whitt Jr. and Jason Simmons, Ramsey steps into the STAR role in the Steelers defense and has drawn comparisons to Hall of Famer Charles Woodson. Lofty praise, but that’s the type of talent Ramsey possesses.
Hopefully Ramsey can be better in 2026 with a full offseason in Pittsburgh to immerse himself within the franchise and learn the scheme for his role.
No. 11 — MICHAEL PITTMAN JR., WR
Entering the offseason, the Steelers had a major need at WR2 behind DK Metcalf. Michael Pittman Jr. is a surefire plug to fill that need.
He wasn’t a name many were anticipating being available, but GM Omar Khan and the Steelers took advantage of the Indianapolis Colts needing to shed some salary and landed Pittman at a steep discount. He’s not a flashy receiver and he’s not going to stretch the field, but he’s as dependable as they come and is QB-proof.
Pittman gets open quickly off the line, has great hands in traffic and plays a physical, rugged style of football that will make him a fan favorite. He projects as a great complementary piece opposite Metcalf and should help open things up in the passing game for Pittsburgh.
No. 10 — DESHON ELLIOTT, S
I caught a lot of flak for having DeShon Elliott inside my top 10 after the season despite him playing just a few games due to injuries. I still feel justified in that ranking because Elliott is a vital piece to the Steelers defense, especially the secondary.
He’s now healthy and ready to get back onto the field under a new coaching staff. In a new-look secondary, he might be the most important piece of it all. Elliott is one of the smartest players in football and he provides a physical presence on the back end.
He’s been a great fit in Pittsburgh from a locker room perspective, and it was noticeable when he was out of the lineup last season. He’s a tackling machine, has a knack for coming up with the big plays in big spots, and just plays like a Steeler.
Elliott isn’t a big name at the safety position, but he’s darn good and is one of the best defenders the Steelers have. A healthy season from him will go a long way toward the defense’s success in 2026.
