news-engine

As we prepare for the 2026 NFL season, FanSided's NFL editorial team cast their votes for the league's most overrated players. Unfortunately, one current Pittsburgh Steelers player cracked the top-10... and we can't even argue it's unwarranted. With nine vote points, DK Metcalf ties Drake Maye as the 5th most overrated NFL player entering the 2026 season, per FanSided's Jason Reed. This comes just over a year after being traded to the Steelers and after the least productive season of his first seven years in the league. Topping the list was Broncos quarterback Bo Nix with 22 vote points. This was followed by Bears QB Caleb Williams (16 votes), Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (13 votes), and Chargers QB Justin Herbert. Metcalf was the first non-QB to show up on the most overrated rankings. Sadly, even Steelers fans are starting to undertand why Metcalf's name belongs on this anti-hero list. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf voted as a top-10 most overrated NFL player entering 2026 In 15 games (and 15 starts) in 2025, Metcalf caught just 59 of 99 targets for 850 yards. Though he did put up a respectable six touchdown receptions, Metcalf's 3.9 receptions per game proved to be an underwhelming involvement in the Steelers' offense. And considering the steep price the Steelers paid to acquire him, this is simply unacceptable. Last offseason, general manager Omar Khan surrendered a second-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in the trade for Metcalf, only to turn around and make him a top-five, highest-paid receiver in the league at the time. Metcalf's extension in 2025 was a four-year, $132 million deal, which included just over $60 million in guarantees. At roughly $33 million per season, per Over the Cap, Metcalf is getting paid in the same tier as superstars like Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb, while making notably more per season than players like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Nico Collins. The data suggests this should not be the case. In addition to having underwhelming raw production last year, Metcalf earned just a 71.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season, making him PFF's 41st-highest-graded NFL receiver in 2025. This pedestrian grade was lower than receivers around the league like Devaughn Vele, Jalen Coker, and Kayshon Boutte. The unfortunate reality of the situation is that the Steelers will probably never get their money's worth out of the Metcalf deal, and it's nearly impossible to justify the contract plus the draft capital surrendered in the trade. In terms of his skill set and what he offers the team, Metcalf is a high-end No. 2 wide receiver who can win down the field. However, with a steep contract and modest production, it's not hard to figure out why FanSided voted the Steelers wideout as one of the most overrated players in the league.