The Steelers drafted standout Najee Harris and boast one of the most dynamic receiving corps in the NFL.
Yet, they've fallen in ESPN's annual rankings of offensive weapons.
NFL guru Bill Barnwell says the Steelers rank No. 15 in offensive skill players, down from No. 13 last year. While Barnwell is bullish on sophomore Chase Claypool, he's pessimistic about Juju Smith-Schuster, who's failed to replicate his breakout 2018 campaign.
Smith-Schuster returned to the Steelers on a one-year deal this offseason.
"I'm not as optimistic about Smith-Schuster, who had one of the most spectacular sophomore seasons in league history and then followed it with an injury-hit 2019," Barnwell writes. "He didn't return to his 2018 self in 2020 and averaged just 8.6 yards per reception while fumbling three times."
While the free agent market was depressed, other wideouts, such as Kenny Golladay, were still able to secure lucrative multi-year deals. The lack of interest in Smith-Schuster shows NFL talent evaluators probably agree with Barnwell's synopsis.
While Diontae Johnson amassed 923 receiving yards last year, Barnwell points out he needed 144 targets to reach that number. As a comparison, Calvin Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons needed 143 targets to reach 1,374 yards.
Ben Roethlisberger's declining arm strength is probably responsible for Johnson's subpar yards per reception numbers, and once again, Roethlisberger will be the key to Pittsburgh's offense this season. Will he play like the elite quarterback who went 11-0 through most of last season, or the washed up passer who slogged through December?
That is the great unknown, despite Roethlisberger's apparently slimmer physique.
Pittsburgh's offensive line is also a question mark. Though Harris presumably represents a big upgrade over James Connor, we're not sure how much room there will be for him to run. The Steelers lost Maurkice Pouncey and Alejandro Villanueva this offseason, potentially replacing them with rookie Kendrick Green and veteran Trai Turner, who started just nine games last season.
Still, the Steelers have the raw talent to score a lot of points. If all goes according to plan, they'll be much better than a middling offense. That's the good news.
"If we somehow get the Smith-Schuster from 2018, the Claypool second-year breakout and the Harris who looked unstoppable at Alabama all at the same time, the Steelers could make this ranking look silly," Barnwell writes.
