Steelers receiving group towards the bottom of the NFL according to PFF

As the 2025 NFL offseason progresses into the summer months, there will constantly be a barrage of lists and rankings from various outlets. While some fans will have preferred places where they look for particular rankings, others will just avoid the information altogether.

After previously reporting on the members of the Pittsburgh Steelers who landed in the top 32 players at various positions according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), now it is time to look at several position groups as a whole and where they rank across the NFL. I know there are many who like to criticize PFF rankings, with me being one of them, it doesn’t mean that their information is always incorrect. While they used rankings for some of their reasoning when looking at players within the position groups, team scores from 2024 were not their ultimate deciding factor and instead it was the opinion of the various authors depending on which position group was being covered.

Whenever I cover various things from PFF, I often give the disclaimer reminding people that their grades are merely an opinion. One thing PFF should be commended on is that they collect an immense amount of data, particularly looking at each player on every snap, in order to form their opinion. But more data doesn’t automatically deliver a correct opinion. Regardless, it is still a great point of discussion to see where the Pittsburgh Steelers rank and the various positional groups.

To start things off, let’s look at PFF’s rankings of all receiving groups (including all eligible positions such as tight end and running back as well as wide receiver) where the Steelers still have a potential hole.

NOTE: This list was constructed before the trade which brought Jonnu Smith, a top 5 tight end according to PFF, to Pittsburgh.

29. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Steelers traded for D.K. Metcalf in the offseason but then shipped off George Pickens. That profiles as only a slight upgrade for a team that finished 20th in PFF receiving grade in 2024. Pittsburgh should get more out of second-year receiver Roman Wilson, who was largely injured last season, and the backfield combination of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell brings some third-down, pass-catching ability.

While it is unsure how much the addition of Jonnu Smith would affect the Steelers ranking, it would have to do at least something. The Miami Dolphins receivers were ranked 7th overall and Smith was mentioned by name as having over an 80.0 receiving grade last season. If he was so instrumental from Miami, it would be hard to believe he wouldn’t at least affect the Steelers a little bit.

As for the breakdown of the Steelers themselves, it makes sense for there to be questions as the wide receivers have a lot of uncertainty. Of course there is DK Metcalf, the tight ends, and some pass catching running backs. But it’s more about the uncertainty beyond Metcalf at wide receiver that puts the Steelers towards the bottom of the NFL.

Comparing the Steelers to the rest of the AFC North, it’s no surprise the Cincinnati Bengals were toward the top of the list as they placed 3rd in the NFL with their wide receiver combination of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Baltimore Ravens were the next unit coming in at the 12th spot. Personally, I believe their wide receivers are weaker than the Steelers, but their tight ends are both top 10 according to PFF. The Steelers are the next team at 29th as the Cleveland Browns came in dead last on the list in the 32nd position.