In 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers will once again depend on the most expensive defense in the NFL to help carry a somewhat inconsistent offense filled with new players. The Steelers defense will also have a few new faces in the starting lineup but the core of this group remains the same.
With the team breaking from their mandatory minicamp this week, they now have a month until the team gets back to work, but this time at training camp. So this is a great time for us to update our projected starting lineup on defense including a new starter in each of the three levels.
Defensive tackle
Cam Heyward
Defensive end
Derrick Harmon
Nose tackle
Keeanu Benton
Outside linebacker
T.J. Watt
Outside linebacker
Alex Highsmith
Inside linebacker
Payton Wilson
Inside linebacker
Patrick Queen
Cornerback
Darius Slay
Cornerback
Joey Porter Jr.
Slot cornerback
Beanie Bishop
Free safety
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Strong safety
DeShon Elliott
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers Week One projection on defense