3 Steelers that will improve in 2023, and 1 who absolutely won’t

Steelers player that will improve in 2023: Alex Highsmith

Heyward is on the downswing of his career, but his decline should be balanced out by Highsmith’s ascendancy. The 25-year-old pass rusher has exploded this season for 12 sacks and should be able to duplicate that feat for several more years as he enters his athletic prime.

The former Charlotte 49er was a clever third-round draft pick by the Steelers back in 2020. He lacks the size to be a conventional defensive lineman, but he’s ideally suited to play the hybrid edge role in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense.

If Highsmith can add another pass rush move or two to his repertoire in the offseason he could become even more dangerous to opposing quarterbacks in 2023. He’s a budding star who can be a foundational piece of the next great Steelers defense.

Steelers that will improve in 2023: George Pickens

Pickens has been a solid producer for Pittsburgh’s offense as a rookie, but he’s shown flashes of real brilliance despite the team’s uneven quarterback play. He has a real chance to blossom into the team’s No. 1 wide receiver during his sophomore campaign.

The key for Pickens will be to find a way to make more routine plays. He excels at making acrobatic catches in traffic. He needs to add more ordinary catches to his bag of tricks if he wants to develop into a true superstar. Pittsburgh’s coaching staff likes his chances to do just that in 2023.