Steel City Underground presents it\u2019s \u2018Upon Review\u2019 series of Pittsburgh Steelers positional group grades for the 2025 NFL season with statistical analysis and performance reviews.<\/p>\n
The Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 linebacker corps entered the 2025 season with high expectations, blending elite edge rushers with a revamped inside group anchored by big-money free agent Patrick Queen<\/a>. After a 10-7 campaign that ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Houston Texans, the unit\u2019s performance was a mixed bag: dominant on the edges but inconsistent in the middle.<\/p>\n Using metrics from Pro Football Focus (PFF) and season stats, here\u2019s a player-by-player grade for the key linebackers, focusing on overall impact, snaps played, and contributions in pass rush, run defense, coverage and tackling.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n The outside linebackers The perennial Pro Bowler remained the heartbeat of the unit despite missing three games with a hamstring injury. The 31-year-old edge rusher logged 14 starts, tallying 7.0 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, two interceptions and 55 tackles (23 solo). His PFF run-defense grade led all edge defenders at 90.3, and he forced a team-high six fumbles. Watt\u2019s ability to disrupt plays was evident in wins like the 34-12 rout of Cincinnati, where he notched two sacks.<\/p>\n Grade: A-<\/p>\n Even with reduced snaps (around 700), and a big dip in sacks, his elite production justifies the mark; without him, the Steelers\u2019 pass rush dipped noticeably.<\/p>\n Alex Highsmith<\/a><\/p>\n Watt\u2019s counterpart delivered another solid year opposite the star. In 13 games (all starts \u2013 he missed weeks 3, 4, 10 and 11 due to injury), he recorded 6.5 sacks, 82 tackles and an 82.2 overall PFF grade, bolstered by an 82.4 in run defense \u2013 fourth among edge rushers with 500-plus snaps. However, his pass-rush grade (78.0) lagged behind his 2024 peak, partly due to double-teams drawn by Watt.<\/p>\n Grade: B+<\/p>\n Nick Herbig<\/a><\/p>\n Herbig emerged as a breakout star in his third season, stepping up during Watt\u2019s absences. The 24-year-old played 16 games (636 snaps), earning an 87.3 overall PFF grade \u2013 sixth among edges. His stats: eight sacks, 48 pressures, 13 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, one interception and 25 tackles. Herbig\u2019s 87.3 pass-rush grade ranked seventh league-wide, and he allowed just 89 yards in coverage on 10 targets.<\/p>\n Grade: A<\/p>\n Herbig\u2019s versatility in coverage (73.2 grade) makes him a three-down threat, signaling a bright future.<\/p>\n Jack Sawyer<\/a><\/p>\n Sawyer, a fourth-round pick in 2025 from Ohio State, provided rotational depth in 17 games. The 23-year-old edge tallied 3.5 sacks, 22 pressures and 18 tackles in limited snaps (about 300). As a developmental piece behind Watt and Highsmith, Sawyer showed flashes, like a strip-sack in Week 12 against Baltimore. In a draft re-grade, he was part of a class praised for immediate impact, though his role was situational.<\/p>\n Grade: C+<\/p>\n Depth: Jeremiah Moon<\/a>, a special teams staple, appeared in 17 games with minimal defensive snaps (under 200). The 27-year-old recorded 12 tackles and one sack, focusing on coverage units. His contributions were steady but unremarkable. Depth players like Moon are vital for roster balance, but don\u2019t crack the rotation consistently enough for a solid grade.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n The inside linebackers Queen, the unit\u2019s highest-paid player, underwhelmed in his second Steelers season. Starting all 17 games (1,180 snaps), he led the team with 120 tackles (56 solo) and added 1.0 sack, but his efficiency cratered. Queen\u2019s 43.5 overall PFF grade ranked near the bottom among qualifiers, with dismal marks in coverage (32.4) and tackling (30.1, the worst for substantial snaps). He allowed 829 yards on 74 receptions \u2013 league highs \u2013 and missed 32 tackles. Queen regressed, prompting questions about scheme fit.<\/p>\n Grade: C-<\/p>\n Payton Wilson<\/a><\/p>\n Wilson, in his sophomore year, became the Steelers\u2019 tackling machine. Appearing in 17 games, the 25-year-old racked up 126 tackles \u2013 tops on the team \u2013 along with 2.5 sacks and one interception. Wilson improved markedly, earning praise for \u201cyoung impact\u201d and a 92.7 PFF grade in a standout Week 8 performance against the Giants. Wilson\u2019s athleticism solidified him as Queen\u2019s complement, but coverage lapses remain.<\/p>\n Grade: B<\/p>\n Rotation: Cole Holcomb<\/a>, a veteran presence, played 14 games (three starts) after injury recovery, notching 37 tackles. Malik Harrison<\/a>, signed for depth, contributed 28 tackles in 17 games, excelling in run stuffing. His special teams work was key. Rookie Carson Bruener<\/a>, a seventh-rounder from Washington, saw sparse action (17 games, minimal snaps) with four tackles. As a late pick, his focus was development.<\/p>\n
\nT.J. Watt<\/a><\/p>\n
\nPatrick Queen<\/p>\n