Steelers Skill Positions Snubbed in National Rankings, They are Better Than You Think

When the Pittsburgh Steelerstraded for Michael Pittman Jr., they finally brought stability to the wide receiver room. They followed that move by selecting two wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft. By all accounts, the Steelers appear to have solved their weakest skill position. However, not everyone agrees. ESPN's national NFL writer Bill Barnwell offered a less than optimistic outlook on the receiver room. What stood out most was his assessment of the Pittman trade.

"Michael Pittman Jr. is a good fit for what Aaron Rodgers wants to do (get the ball out quickly for short completions) but a bad fit for what the Steelers need (a wide receiver who can stretch teams downfield)." Barnwell wrote. Frankly, this take lacks depth and misunderstands why the Steelers needed Pittman in the first place.

Though Barnwell credited the Steelers for selecting Germie Bernard, he still ranked their skill position group poorly. They ranked 21st, five spots behind the Baltimore Ravens. That breakdown raises real questions, and Barnwell doesn't seem to grasp the full context behind the move.

Steelers Wide Receivers Are Better Than You Think

Last season, the Steelers needed one thing above all: a clear WR2. Calvin Austin III played admirably at times, but he never fit the mold to complement DK Metcalf. Roman Wilson, meanwhile, was still essentially a rookie. Pittman's 2025 season, 80 receptions for 784 yards and seven touchdowns, almost single-handedly outproduced the Steelers' six wide receivers behind Metcalf.

Those six receivers combined for just 77 receptions, 866 yards, and seven touchdowns. The lack of a proven WR2, WR3 forced Aaron Rodgers and the offense into more of a quick-throw scheme. Rodgers, at this stage of his career, can no longer extend plays the way he once did. But the quick throws Barnwell highlights in his assessment don't fall on Rodgers alone.

The real explanation runs deeper than the stat sheet shows.

Personnel and Arthur Smith's Offense Limited Rodgers

It's no coincidence that the Steelers' offense, under head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, leaned on quick throws. That's the foundation of Smith's system: a heavy run game, play-action, and either deep throws or check-downs, with very little in between. It didn't help that, outside of Metcalf, the Steelers' receivers struggled to create separation and make plays. Pittman changes that significantly.

Pittman won't play like a Tee Higgins-caliber WR2. Still, he represents a clear upgrade over what the Steelers had last year. Head coach Mike McCarthy's vertical offense also sets Pittman up well to work the middle of the field underneath, and he can still win contested catches downfield. So while the Steelers' receiver room doesn't match the Bengals' level of firepower, it's in far better shape than Barnwell suggests. Add in an arguably top-three tight end room and a strong running back duo, and the case for a higher ranking becomes clear.

At minimum, the Steelers should be ranked ahead of the Ravens.