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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Curt Popejoy

Ranking the 5 core players on the Steelers roster

ESPN recently ranked all 32 NFL rosters and noted who they considered the core five players on each roster. They identified T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick, George Pickens and Kenny Pickett as the core five players.

This got us thinking about who we consider the core five guys. Is it the same? Let’s take a look.

QB Kenny Pickett

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

This team is going to go exactly as far as Kenny Pickett takes them.

WR Diontae Johnson

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

With all due respect to George Pickens, Pickett needs to lean heavily on Diontae Johnson and his experience to be his most consistent target in the passing game.

LB T.J. Watt

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

If Watt can stay healthy for the season he will be in the fold to be Defensive Player of the Year once again.

S Minkah Fitzpatrick

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The most complete defensive back in the league and the leader in the secondary.

RB Najee Harris

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

We replaced Heyward on this list begrudgingly. Heyward is tremendous but at 34 we opted for a younger star in Najee Harris. Seeing Harris in the second half of last season we feel like he has the potential to be a star back in the league.

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