NFL.com predicts T.J. Watt as Steelers MVP over Russell Wilson, Justin Fields

So much for all the offensive changes the Steelers have made since last season ended. New coordinator and new quarterbacks don’t change the fact that Pittsburgh still is a defensive team at its core.

This means T.J. Watt, the king of the Steelers defense, should be the team’s MVP for the upcoming season. That’s according to Eric Edholm with NFL.com. He predicted the MVP for all 32 league teams. The selection of Watt, the Steelers ferocious pass rusher, shows its not always all about the quarterback.

“The quarterback play should be better in Pittsburgh, one way or another,” Edholm wrote. “But I can’t put enough of my weight behind either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields to go with either here. Watt is the easier selection as the centerpiece of a very good defense that will remain the superior side on this team.

“Last season was another brilliant one from Watt, whose next big milestone could be passing the 100-sack mark before he turns 30 years old in October. Short of a major injury, I can’t see how he doesn’t dominate again in 2024, surrounded by a strong supporting cast and working with an offense that’s better but still the lesser of the two major units on this team.”

And why not Watt? His 19 sacks led the NFL last season. The Steelers struggled on offense throughout the fall. But the defense, led by Watt, usually was nails.

Pittsburgh needed a win at Baltimore in the regular-season finale to clinch a playoff spot. So Watt twice sacked Tyler Huntley, who was filling in for Lamar Jackson, the NFL MVP, before leaving the game with a sprained MCL. He wanted to return, but doctors wouldn’t allow it. Despite not being able to play the entire game, Watt picked up AFC Defender of the Week honors. Aside from his two sacks, he also posted eight tackles, six of them solo, with three quarterback hits and three tackles for loss.

The Steelers voted Watt their team MVP for 2023. It was the fourth time he earned the honor. So having an outsider select Watt probably isn’t much of a stretch.

Still, the Steelers would like to see their offense improve after making so many major changes. Wilson finished OTAs and minicamp as the first-team quarterback, with Fields at No. 2. Pittsburgh hired Arthur Smith, the former head coach of the Falcons, as the new offensive coordinator.

When Steelers training camp opens July 24, all eyes will be on Wilson and the offense. But that’s probably OK with Watt and his defensive teammates. They’re a known commodity.