ESPN just threw a massive amount of disrespect at the Pittsburgh Steelers in way-too-early 2026 NFL power rankings
The Pittsburgh Steelers are being severely discounted in the way too early power rankings that ESPN just dropped, and it’s for the same reasons as usual when analyzing their reasoning for having Pittsburgh so low.
The Pittsburgh Steelers landed at 21st in ESPN’s way-too-early 2026 NFL Power Rankings, a positioning that suggests the franchise is still treading water in the same mediocrity that has defined recent seasons. ESPN cited the Michael Pittman Jr. trade as another example of Pittsburgh acquiring an older wide receiver and handing out new money without a clear path forward, while questioning whether the Steelers have truly solved their quarterback situation. The ranking has sparked debate among the fanbase ahead of training camp.
Key Steelers offseason additions
- WR Michael Pittman Jr.
- RB Rico Dowdle.
- CB Jamel Dean.
ESPN’s ranking doesn’t mirror Steelers’ offseason moves
The bottom line is, while ESPN might make some sound points, this ranking doesn’t align with the way the Steelers themselves have operated this offseason. If Pittsburgh believed it was a bottom-half-of-the-league team heading into 2026, the front office wouldn’t have made the moves it did. The Steelers wouldn’t have drafted wide receiver Germie Bernard in the second round or selected an offensive tackle they believe can start early in the first round. They wouldn’t have re-signed Aaron Rodgers or kept cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Patrick Queen on the roster. They wouldn’t have traded for Pittman and given him a new deal.
That doesn’t mean the process is bulletproof. Whether Pittsburgh has been smart in its year-over-year approach is up for debate, and that’s a fair conversation to have. The Steelers have followed a familiar pattern of acquiring veteran talent and betting on continuity, and critics will point out that the results haven’t translated to deep playoff runs. ESPN’s skepticism isn’t baseless.
Steelers have made a reasonable change on offense for first time in years
But 2026 carries variables that previous seasons didn’t. Pittsburgh has a new head coach and a new offensive system. Rodgers has familiarity with this organization after a full season under his belt. The wide receiver corps is genuinely improved with the addition of Pittman and Bernard alongside what was already on the roster. Those aren’t minor tweaks. Those are substantive changes to the infrastructure of the offense.
Offensive line is the key to success in 2026
The real question left to answer is whether the offensive line will be better. That remains the biggest unknown heading into the summer. Pittsburgh invested first-round draft capital into a tackle, Max Iheanachor, but projecting rookie offensive linemen is always a gamble. The truth is, we won’t have a clear picture until training camp opens, the preseason games provide live reps, and September arrives with real stakes.
I believe the Steelers are too low at 21. The roster improvements are tangible, and the coaching change alone should provide a schematic jolt that ESPN’s ranking doesn’t seem to account for. If Rodgers stays healthy and the offensive line comes together, this team has the talent to push into the top half of the league. Whether that translates to a leap past the wild card round is another matter entirely, but slotting Pittsburgh behind teams with far less proven rosters feels like a projection rooted in the past rather than the present.