The Steelers might be four deep at wide receiver, but none of their top pass-catchers were recognized by Pro Football Focus.
If there is one position on the Steelers offense that I’m confident can be good in 2021, it’s a wide receiver. We all know about the inconsistency issues this unit had in 2020, and Diontae Johnson, unfortunately, took a step back in play as he led the league in dropped passes. However, there is still a lot of talent to go around with this group, and plenty of reason to believe that these players could take a big leap forward this year.
Sadly, Pro Football Focus doesn’t view it that way. Recently, PFF’s Anthony Treash released his list of the 32 best wide receivers entering the 2021 season and the Steelers did not have a single representative make this list.
I’m sure that you would be pleased to learn that a nearly 33-year-old Antonio Brown made it after earning 45 catches for 483 yards and 4 touchdowns with the Buccaneers last year. His pedestrian 10.7 yards per reception and his role as the team’s number three receiver was apparently enough to crack the top 32 wide receiver list heading into the 2021 season.
In addition, players like Corey Davis, Devante Parker, Robert Woods, and Tyler Boyd apparently all did enough to have their names recognized on this list, while no Steelers receiver was even considered among the honorable mentions.
Steelers receivers will be out to prove doubters wrong
As one of the NFL’s youngest units, it stands to reason that this receiving corps will be improved in 2021. While none of their top four receivers are considered to be elite players at this point in time, they each bring something different to the table.
JuJu Smith-Schuster – who returned to the team on a one-year deal in 2021 – is physical at the catch point and can do the dirty work over the middle of the field. This is a perfect compliment to Diontae Johnson who can win on the outside with his quickness and ability to separate as the ‘X’ receiver. Meanwhile, Chase Claypool and James Washington are beasts down the field. Claypool is bigger with elite athletic traits to pull away from defenders, but Washington may have the best and strongest hands of the group.
I don’t completely disagree with Treash’s list of receiver rankings (though there are certainly a few that could be disputed). I understand that there are teams with better WR1 and WR2 than what the Steelers have. However, Claypool and Washington just might be the best WR3 and WR4 in the NFL, respectively, and having terrific depth certainly counts for something.
The Steelers have a young talented room of wide receivers who could prove to take a big step forward in 2021. I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in these rankings, but I’m willing to bet that Smith-Schuster, Johnson, Claypool, and Washington will be on a mission to prove all of their doubters wrong this season.