After an extremely productive offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers appeared ready to compete for an AFC North title, with many pundits hyping the team’s new additions and warning the rest of the AFC.
After two preseason games, the hype surrounding the Steelers has died down and there are plenty of good spots available for the train. The Steelers’ offense looked terrible and many are wondering whether the new additions have actually made the team better or not.
ESPN has updated its NFL rankings with one preseason game to go. The Steelers have dropped one spot to 16th in the rankings. They were knocked out of the top 15 by the New York Jets, who moved up two spots and overtook Pittsburgh.
Steelers writer Brooke Pryor noted in the rankings that wide receiver George Pickens is the player on the hot seat this season.
By transferring Diontae Johnson in the offseason, Pickens, the 2022 second-round pick, has secured a permanent spot as the top receiver, but that also brings more responsibility and pressure – especially ahead of the offseason when he will be eligible for a contract extension. Games like last year’s two-touchdown, 195-yard performance against the Bengals show that Pickens is capable of carrying an offense, but he’s also temperamental and prone to outbursts on the sideline when things don’t go his way. Pickens’ ability to grow and mature will largely determine the success of the Steelers’ passing game – and his ability to snag a lucrative contract extension in 2025.
If the Steelers offense doesn’t improve from last season, Pickens won’t be the only Steelers player on the hot seat.
