The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tremendous amount of talent on their roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but how would they rank when compared to the other 32 NFL teams? ESPN.com recently ranked every NFL organization in terms of their total roster, and they have the Steelers coming in 12th.
Take a look at ESPN's reasoning behind the Steelers' 12th place ranking:
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
2014 Ranking: 27
Top five players: Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, Kelvin Beachum, Cameron Heyward
Starters who should be upgraded: Cortez Allen, Stephon Tuitt
Analysis: A career year for Roethlisberger coincided with Brown's emergence as possibly the league's best wide receiver and Bell's development into one of its top all-around running backs. That offensive trio will likely dictate the Steelers' fate in 2015, but their strong offensive line is an important factor as well.
The other side of the ball is where the questions lie; of particular concern is Pittsburgh's lack of a productive edge rush. Perhaps first-round rookie Bud Dupree will provide a jolt, but right now defensive lineman Heyward is the defense's only true impact player.
Everyone who looks at the Steelers' roster realistically knows the defensive half of the field is the weaker of the two. Are they a liability as the team enters 2015 with high hopes and aspirations? Only time will tell, but a defense which was gashed by the pass in 2014 (26th in the NFL) doesn't improve it will be on the offense to outscore opponents almost on a weekly basis.
Wondering how the Steelers roster ranks among the AFC North rivals? The Baltimore Ravens ranked 3rd, the Cincinnati Bengals 9th and the Cleveland Browns 14th. Pretty tight rankings for the teams who call the AFC North home.
Take a look at ESPN.com's Top 10 rosters in the NFL:
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. New England Patriots
5. Denver Broncos
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Detroit Lions
8. Minnesota Vikins
9. Cincinnati Bengals
10. New Orleans Saints
Every roster in the NFL has it's strengths and weaknesses, but it is difficult to shake the feeling the Steelers ranked 12th, and 3rd in the AFC North is a bit low for a team who won 11 games and the division in 2014. 2015 is a new season, and if anything is certain in the NFL, it is the uncertainty surrounding each year.