6. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers took J.J. Watt’s younger brother in the first round of the 2017 draft, and Watt made the Pro Bowl in his second season with 13 sacks, 52 total pressures, and 47 stops. But Watt ratcheted things up even higher as a pass-rusher in 2019, with 14.5 sacks and 81 total pressures. Pittsburgh led the league with 180 total pressures and a pressure rate of 30.5%, and Watt was the force multiplier in that equation.
T.J. Watt looking like old-school DeMarcus Ware here. Run the edge with authority, get low at the turn, and explode into the pocket. Watt is an absolute force on the edge, and a big reason the Steelers led the NFL in pressure rate in 2019. pic.twitter.com/2DAXDJusnf
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 16, 2020
Not only is Watt one of the best around-the-edge rushers in the league, he also has a great feel on stunts and games — you’ll often see him jumping two gaps to get to the quarterback on plays when he’s asked to switch places after the snap with other defensive stalwarts like Cameron Heyward. His excellent season would have received more national focus had the Steelers not finished 8-8 due to an absolutely horrific quarterback situation, but that could easily change in 2020.