ESPN released its top 32 NFL roster rankings, and the Pittsburgh Steelers landed at 19th overall. That number alone is worth dissecting, but the more revealing takeaway from the exercise was the label ESPN slapped on the Steelers’ off-ball linebacker position. According to the evaluation, Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson represent the biggest weakness on Pittsburgh’s roster heading into 2026.

For a team that views itself as a playoff contender, maybe even a Super Bowl contender, being pegged 19th is a tough pill to swallow. The Steelers haven’t built this roster to sit in the middle of the pack. But the linebacker designation is where things get particularly interesting, because both Queen and Wilson are projected starters yet again.

Patrick Queen’s contract year could change everything

The truth is, Queen heads into a contract year with very little momentum on the negotiation front. He’s essentially said it’s business as usual, that neither side is actively working toward an extension. The Steelers have made it clear which deals they want to prioritize, and Queen doesn’t appear to be one of those players.

So the question becomes whether a contract year lights a fire. Pittsburgh has seen Queen at his best before. He was a productive, high-impact linebacker during his time with the Baltimore Ravens, and the Steelers paid him expecting that version to show up consistently. If the financial motivation of an expiring deal pushes Queen back toward that level of play, the linebacker group looks different in a hurry.

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Can Payton Wilson finally take that leap?

Wilson is the more complicated case. The Steelers are banking on a Year 3 leap from their young linebacker, but let’s be honest: this time last year, Pittsburgh was hoping for a Year 2 leap that never materialized. Wilson’s struggles against the run led to a rotation that included Malik Harrison and even some Cole Holcomb reps in his place.

That doesn’t mean the book is closed on Wilson becoming a three-down linebacker in the NFL. The talent is there. But hoping for a developmental jump in consecutive offseasons without seeing one is a pattern that should concern the coaching staff. At some point, projection has to become production.

Is ESPN right about the Steelers’ biggest weakness?

Calling the off-ball linebacker position Pittsburgh’s biggest weakness might sound harsh on the surface, but it’s hard to argue with the reasoning. Queen underperformed relative to his contract, and Wilson hasn’t proven he can hold up against the run at a starter’s level. The Steelers need both players to be significantly better in 2026, and right now, that outcome relies more on hope than evidence.

The bottom line is this: if Queen plays like a man chasing his next contract and Wilson finally puts together the complete game everyone has been waiting for, ESPN’s ranking looks foolish by January.