NFL Power Rankings: Steelers considered a middle-of-the-road team post NFL Draft

The 2021 NFL Draft is over, and that means many of the national media sites start to put together some post-draft NFL Power Rankings. Before going any further, we all know these rankings mean nothing. They are about as valuable as your cousin’s 55th mock draft simulation he ran before the first round a few weeks ago.

Nonetheless, for everything about Power Rankings which is silly, it does cause a good amount of debate. Should this team be ranked higher? Why isn’t this team atop the rankings?

For those here at BTSC, we all want to know what the national media thinks when they are talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers. In these post-draft rankings, it isn’t pretty. Plain and simple, the Steelers are viewed as a middle-of-the-road team. Last season they were ranked near the top, or at least in the Top 10, but in 2021 the start of the season seems to have picked up where the season ended in 2020 — with a dud.

While they mean nothing, check out where the Steelers are ranked in some of the Power Rankings below. Be sure to let us know what you think of these rankings in the comment section!

ESPN

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Los Angeles Rams
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Cleveland Browns
8. Seattle Seahawks
9. San Francisco 49ers
10. Tennessee Titans
...
15. Pittsburgh Steelers

“Post-free-agency ranking: 11

Players who benefited most from draft: OTs Zach Banner and Chukwuma Okorafor

The Steelers didn’t draft a Day 1 starting tackle, and that’s good news for both Okorafor and Banner. With Alejandro Villanueva departing in free agency, Okorafor is “penciled in” at starting left tackle, according to what Mike Tomlin said in April. Banner, coming off ACL surgery, is projected to start at right tackle — the position he won in a training camp battle a year ago. Both have more job security, with the Steelers opting to wait until the fourth round to take an offensive tackle.”

NFL.com

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Green Bay Packers
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Cleveland Browns
7. Los Angeles Rams
8. Seattle Seahawks
9. San Francisco 49ers
10. New Orleans Saints
...
11. Pittsburgh Steelers

“Previous rank: No. 10

Selecting dynamic Alabama running back Najee Harris with the 24th overall pick filled a clear area need for a Steelers team that plodded at that position in 2020. Pittsburgh added more offense in the second round with the selection of Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth, who profiles as an excellent counterpart to Eric Ebron. Even with these reinforcements, the Steelers feel vulnerable on offense as we enter a new season. Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins aren’t the most reassuring insurance plans behind a fading Ben Roethlisberger, and the offensive line continues to loom as a concern at a time when division rivals in Baltimore and Cleveland have bolstered their pass rush.”

CBS Sports

1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2 Kansas City Chiefs
3 Buffalo Bills
4. Green Bay Packers
5. Cleveland Browns
6. San Francisco 49ers
7. Baltimore Ravens
8. Arizona Cardinals
9. Los Angeles Rams
10. New England Patriots
...
20. Pittsburgh Steelers

“Ben Roethlisberger is back, but the offensive line has questions and the defense has some too (such as edge rush opposite T.J. Watt). I think they are the third team in the AFC North right now.”

New York Post

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Cleveland Browns
7. Los Angeles Rams
8. San Francisco 49ers
9. Indianapolis Colts
10. Seattle Seahawks
...
15. Pittsburgh Steelers

“Easy to forget they started 11-0 last season. Hard to forget about that ugly playoff loss to the Browns. Tough to say goodbye to a legend, but QB Ben Roethlisberger’s time is up.”