The Steelers’ best (and worst) PFF grades in the 2024 preseason

Although some NFL teams are wrapping up preseason play today, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ exhibition games are complete. That means we can see who performed best and worst over the last three games. Love them or hate them, Pro Football Focus provides a reference point to judge performance, even though we still love watching the footage and analyzing it ourselves.

According to PFF, these are the highest-rated players on each side of the ball this year (at least 20 snaps)

Top Rated Steelers (Offense)

1. WR Dez Fitzpatrick – 89.8
2. WR Jaray Jenkins – 86.9
3. TE MyCole Pruitt – 80.0
4. WR George Pickens – 76.7
5. TE Darnell Washington – 76.5

A group with a lot of specialty positions for the offense. Fitzpatrick stood out in yesterday’s finale, making a 59-yard catch down the right sideline, breaking a tackle and scoring YAC. That may have pushed him over the edge and into the roster. Still, Fitzpatrick is at the bottom of the Steelers’ 53-man receiver depth chart and his greatest value is on special teams. Although he has had plenty of play there, he has performed far worse.

Jenkins caught my eye throughout training camp as he separated himself from players like Duece Watts and Jacob Copeland and was somewhat consistent and productive. Like Fitzpatrick, he caught a pass down the right sideline for 17 yards against the Detroit Lions. He could stay on the practice squad.

Pruitt spent most of the preseason blocking, but yesterday caught a 22-yard pass from QB Justin Fields through the middle, setting up RB La’Mical Perine’s 1-yard touchdown. While he doesn’t have the value of TE Rodney Williams on special teams, Pruitt appears to be ahead of him in terms of blocking and offensive power under OC Arthur Smith. Pruitt has worked under Smith for most of his career.

Pickens had a strong preseason, showing impressive YAC and scoring on a 31-yard catch on 3rd and 11 on Saturday. Combined with a strong training camp, he is poised for a great season and should see more volume now that he is the undisputed No. 1 receiver than he has the past two seasons.

Much like Pruitt, Washington spent the summer doing the dirty work. He didn’t catch a single pass in the preseason, let alone throw one, he used maximum protection in play-action, and he blocked more passes than he did in his rookie season. He got a good grade for his pass blocking, but he still got penalized for his run blocking. Our eye test showed that he has improved there.

Defensively top marks.

Top Rated Steelers (Defense)

1. OLB Nick Herbig – 93.1
2. NT Keeanu Benton – 87.3
3. DE Larry Ogunjobi – 84.4
4. CB Cory Trice Jr. – 81.1
5. CB Kalon Barnes – 77.1

Herbig was unstoppable this summer and earned the “elite” label from PFF. It was absolutely deserved. Benton was almost as good and the Lions couldn’t block either of them yesterday. We’ve been critical of Ogunjobi in the past, but praised him for having the best training camp he’s ever had. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

Trice improved over the summer after losing his rookie year to a torn ACL. He wasn’t tested much on the field, but was strong on throws and used in dime packages. Barnes is no longer in contention after being released/injured at the end of camp, so his grade doesn’t mean much anymore. S Miles Killebrew was right behind him.

And what about the worst/lowest? Same minimum of 20 snaps.

Lowest rated Steelers (Offensive)

1. OT Anderson Hardy – 39.5
2nd floor Isaac Seumalo – 41.4
3rd floor Tyler Beach – 41.4
4th floor James Daniels – 48.2
5th floor Joey Fisher – 49.1

Less reassuring is seeing two offensive linemen on this list, especially the veteran guard duo. That probably still doesn’t mean much, but Pittsburgh will need Seumalo and Daniels to be strong all season. The other offensive linemen were on the Steelers’ third team and won’t make the 53. Maybe only one will even make the practice squad. We’ve been discussing Hardy’s issues all training camp, and he felt like the No. 91 guy on the roster. Him or WR Jacob Copeland.

Lowest rated Steelers (defense)

1. CB Kiondre Thomas – 37.7
2. DL Isaiah Loudermilk – 40.1
3. EDGE Marcus Haynes – 45.5
4. ILB Payton Wilson – 46.0
5. CB Beanie Bishop Jr. – 48.3

Thomas played the most in yesterday’s finale and was targeted frequently in the second half. Loudermilk received high marks for his pass rush, but PFF criticized him for his poor run defense. He is a little nervous heading into cutdown day. Haynes was a late addition and played only against Detroit.

Wilson received a poor grade. On tape, his run defense was questionable and he was picked out of gaps too often. But chaotic tackling was his biggest flaw, along with poor coverage grades. Bishop was healthy enough to play against the Lions, but didn’t play in the second half and failed to stand out. So Pittsburgh’s slot position is unknown and I can suggest Patrick Peterson as a band-aid.