Who are the Steelers actual cornerstones on the roster?

With the bulk of free agency now in the books and the Steelers still waiting on a certain someone to decide if he wants to play for them in 2025 or not, it seems like its a good time to take a look at who they have in house and take a good look at the roster. I don’t mean breaking down position groups or player by player but what I’m interested in is who are the Steelers corner stone players now and for the future.

Now, when I think of a cornerstone, it’s the players who are seen as the “spine” of a team—the ones who show up year after year while playing and leading at an extremely high level. The clear and obvious cornerstones of the Steelers for the past five years, and potentially the next few, are Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Minkah Fitzpatrick, with a shoutout to Chris Boswell, who is the best kicker in the NFL.

With these guys entering what is likely the twilight of their careers—or, in the case of Watt and Fitzpatrick, the latter stages of their primes—let’s take a look at some of the younger players who are, or could become, cornerstones of the franchise.

Potential Cornerstones:

These are players who have shown flashes of becoming cornerstones but haven’t demonstrated it over an extended period of time or have created some level of uncertainty about whether they’ll ultimately reach that status.

Joey Porter Jr:

Joey Porter Jr. has had a volatile start to his career but has generally trended in a positive direction during his short tenure with the Steelers. Since being inserted into the starting lineup midway through his rookie season, Porter has consistently been tasked with shadowing the opposition’s top wide receiver. At times, he’s looked like a true lockdown man-to-man corner, particularly during his rookie campaign when he played some of his best football as a pro. However, his 2024 season was viewed by some as a step back, highlighted by a rough outing against Tee Higgins in which he was flagged six times. If Porter Jr. can recapture his rookie form and build on it, there’s no question he has the potential to become a cornerstone of the franchise.

Troy Fautanu:

The Steelers’ 2024 first-round pick has yet to play an NFL snap, so including him in this conversation might be a bit of a stretch. However, he’s an ultra-athletic tackle prospect who generated rave reviews coming out of training camp, even beating out fellow first-rounder Broderick Jones for the starting right tackle spot. Unfortunately, a dislocated knee forced him to redshirt his rookie season. I’m a big fan of Fautanu’s game, and based on his college tape, athleticism, and the praise he received in camp, he has all the makings of a future cornerstone. Now, we just need to see him on the field to confirm that sentiment.

Patrick Queen:

Queen signed the largest free-agent contract in Steelers history when he joined from the Ravens in 2024. His start to the season may not have been as strong as he or Steelers fans had hoped, but his steady improvement—while adapting to his new role as the defense’s green dot—bodes well for his return to the 2023 form that earned him second-team All-Pro honors. At just 25 years old, Queen has already played in 84 NFL games, making him highly experienced for his age. Given that experience and the fact that he’s entering his prime, I expect we’ll see a full season of the high-level play he displayed in the second half of 2024, cementing him as a cornerstone for the Steelers moving forward.

Patrick Queen a sideline-to-sideline monster yesterday. Impact game. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/77C0WrGJaC

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) November 11, 2024

The Cornerstones for 2025 and beyond:

Zach Frazier:

Disclaimer: I understand that Frazier has only one NFL season under his belt, so this is a small sample size to base such a judgment on. However, when evaluating the roster, his name stood out as a player who could be a stalwart on his side of the ball both now and for the next decade. As a rookie, he showcased toughness, athleticism, power, and finesse as a blocker at the heart of the offensive line. His performance was a stark contrast to what we’ve seen at the position since Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement, as he was graded by PFF as the fifth-best center in the NFL and earned “first-team All-Rookie honors” from multiple publications. The next step for Frazier is to step into a leadership role along the young offensive line and within an offensive unit that, at this point, lacks many recognized leaders.

Please watch Zach Frazier and Ben Skowronek catch bodies in the run game in succession

(slowed down for dramatic effect) pic.twitter.com/Ic4ycQTWC8

— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) December 2, 2024

DK Metcalf:

DK might not have played his best football in 2024, but you don’t invest a second-round pick and a five-year, $150 million contract in a 27-year-old former All-Pro receiver unless you believe he will be a cornerstone of your team for both the present and the future. Metcalf may not currently be a tier-one player at his position, but this level of investment suggests the Steelers believe there is still untapped potential in his game. If they can tailor the 2025 offense around him and place him in a scheme that maximizes his strengths, there’s a strong chance he can return to the elite level he showcased in 2020—one that placed him among the top wide receivers in the league.

This is a list that may cause some confusion because I have anointed a player with only a rookie season behind him and another who has never worn a Steelers jersey as cornerstone pieces for this franchise. However, to me, these are the players who will have that kind of effect in 2025 and for five or more years.

In saying that, I also know I may have left off names that you felt should be included, like Keeanu Benton or George Pickens, who each have a case in their own right. My question to you is: Do you think I have singled out the wrong players for these titles, or maybe you believe there are no true cornerstones on the roster outside of the older guys on defense? Let me know below I’m interested to find out.