National outlets rank Steelers’ roster in top half of NFL talent rankings, but barely
As the calendar flipped Thursday to the month in which training camps open across the NFL, the 2021 season has never felt closer. Three national outlets that cover the league combined to release two rankings of the 32 teams in terms of talent.
In other words, the proverbial “this team looks (good, bad or otherwise) on paper.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers ranked in the top half of the NFL. But barely.
A list compiled by a partnership between ESPN and Pro Football Focus pegged the Steelers as the 16th-best collection of talent, slotting them right before the midpoint of the 32-team league.
CBS Sports was more generous to the Steelers, ranking their roster ninth.
Wrote author Jordan Dajnai on the Steelers: “Even after the Steelers started last year 11-0, their late season flameout and questions about Ben Roethlisberger moving forward have many bearish on them in 2021. I agree that they could take a step backwards, but this roster on paper still has the talent to contend.”
The CBS criteria, as explained by Dajnai: “(T)his is a ranking of how the rosters/talent appears on paper entering this season. As you know, possessing talent does not necessarily guarantee a playoff bid.”
The ESPN/PFF criteria, according to author Ben Linsey: “(B)reaking down each team’s roster using the PFF database, with an eye toward the projected starters. We looked at both the PFF grades from the 2020 season — a number included for every projected starter — and a more comprehensive look at each player’s career using both PFF grades and statistics.”
Linsey said the Steelers’ biggest strength was a defense that pressure opposing quarterbacks, and its biggest weakness is the offensive line. He selected Cameron Sutton as an “X factor” as Sutton’s role changes from being a No. 4 cornerback/dime player to one of the top two starting outside corners.
Both the ESPN/PFF and CBS lists put the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 1 and the team they beat in February’s Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs, No. 2.
Where it gets interesting — and perhaps scary — for Steelers fans is that both rankings have the Cleveland Browns as the NFL’s No. 3 roster on paper. PFF/ESPN ranks the Baltimore Ravens fifth; CBS puts them sixth.
At least the AFC North’s fourth team, the Cincinnati Bengals, are at No. 26 (CBS) and No. 24 (ESPN/PFF).
The outlets agree that the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and New York Jets (in order) are the NFL’s three worst rosters.
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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