The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense is ranked last in allowing 100-yard wide receivers in 2025.

i think many of those 100 yard receivers benefited from the way the steelers were playing defense as well. not meaning bad, although a lot of it was bad. but the 9 to 10 yard cushions the CBs were allowing as that was the called defensive scheme gave up a ton of yards to receivers easily. the pass rush had some to do with it but i think the lack of man-press coverage played into it more. and i understand that the man-press coverage corners they thought they signed were no longer able to play man-press coverages.

 

I think that we are thinking about bringing back Pierre and Samuel because they performed much better at the end of the year than the beginning and those guys didn't play at the beginning of the season. The vast number of 100 yard receiving games were due to the fact that Slay played really poorly (and Ramsey didn't play great at outside corner either). Pierre and Samuel both individually performed well. Honestly, I think we should sign a CB2 in FA and have Pierre as our #3. We can draft a high end slot like Ponds and our CB room will look really nice.

As for JPJ, he had a great year. It would've been nice to see him follow other teams' #1 receiver around, but the coaching staff preferred to see him on one side of the field and let the offense scheme ways to avoid him. Samuel and Pierre both helped a lot, but it was a rough start for the other corners.

 

which of these WRs are free agents?
SIGN THEM SIGN THEM SOON!!!




That Tomlin always scouting and planning so far ahead
lets verify no issues with fans first tho

 

This would be true... except the Steelers were 8th in pass rush win rate and finished 6th in sacks per ESPN. Pressuring the QB wasnt Pittsburghs issue. Lack of talent amd depth at CB was. JPJ cannot be everywhere all at once.


If anything, I think this thread is convincing me to potentially update my Top Three Players whom I would want to draft.

 

Communication was pretty bad in the backfield. Guys mentioned it in postgames. Hopefully the new DC Graham and his guys can help fix that mess.

 

That's interesting.

Because I think the overall pass D was good (at least measured by preventing explosive plays).

My guess is that Minkah wouldn't be cheap anyway. And there seems to be some hype building about the crop of Ss in the draft.

 

One of the problems the Steelers had, especially in the first half of the season, was that the opposing quarterback would often throw under 2.5 seconds for a good gain, so the pass rush had no chance in that situation.

 

Slay
Ramsey
Echols

Those are the guys that seemed to be in coverage the most often when the Steelers got lit up for big plays.

One thing I wonder about JPJ, how good was his coverage and/or how bad was the coverage every where else that he just doesn't matter? Like were teams avoiding testing him specifically or were they just identifying where Echols, Slay, or Ramsey was in coverage and roasting those guys intentionally?

On the communication thing...I often wonder how frequently the Steelers or any NFL team throws out that as a media answer to avoid saying "Brandon Echols can not cover NFL WRs to save his momma's life"?

 

Porter is generally in very tight coverage. It has been that way throughout his college and pro career. The dude sticks to receivers consistently. It has always been his superpower.

 

I had that impression as well. But it is always worth asking/checking when the others in coverage are as leaky as his current compatriots.

 

They do it a lot. No good coaches want to throw their players under the bus.

 

Of course both can be true. JPJ can be good, and the other teams rather pick on the weaknesses, and also throw to the guys getting open the fastest.

 

The measuring stick is what happens when the ball is thrown JPJ's way. He was top 10 in number of passes defensed. (If he had just one more he would have been tied with a logjam at #5.). And JPJ is the only CB that could play press man. The Steelers absolutely need more at the position.

 

Hello Brice,



JPJ allowed 325 yards in 2025 over 14 games, according to Pro Football Focus. In his two seasons as a starter (2024–2025), he has established himself as a shutdown cornerback, giving up zero touchdowns in 2024 and 2025 combined. I got his back. He is not the problem. He is part of the solution.


Now Mr. Queen allows many yards!

Based on 2025 season PFF charting, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen allowed 814 to 829 yards in coverage during the 2025 regular season.

Get this X rat the F off the field on likely passing downs ( 2nd and 7 or more yards to go ) and all 3rd downs that are 3 or more yards to go.

He is fine as a 2 two down run defender.

But he is a cap killer ( 17.1 million against the salary cap ) and a hole in the pass defense. A double whammy.



Saftey Elliot offers solid coverage, but he was hurt in 2025.


I am for drafting another safety and corner in round 3. With a new DC ( our last one sucked with a capital S ) and Tomiln's out date cover 2 scheme the results tell the tale.

- JB

 

Do share your top three players you want to draft.


Our pass rush rates an 8 out of 10 in my book.


Our holes in the pass defense at corner 2 and ILB in the middle are a huge part of the problem.

 

Oh my what big print you have!

New beginning, I believe I have Genesis Smith in my mock
I'd rather get Caleb and trade for Josh so at least we have two downs

 

And what do you think that will cost to trade up in the draft?

Humor me, please.

 

This part made me spit coffee

 

The smartest long term move the Steelers could make in the 2026 draft is to trade out of the 2026 first round for a 2027 first round pick.

Then they’d actually have a path to getting a quarterback.

If you look at the thread about the “best fo” that’s what they do.

 

I would love if this is the case...similar to what the rams did last year with the falcons and they had also a second round draft pick with that!