The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner. One of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest draft needs is wide receiver, and a quality route runner would complement the current group. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there isn’t a stats service that tracks separation – distance between receiver and nearest defender at the catch point. I would definitely use that metric if it were available.
Instead, we will examine QB rating in man coverage to see some of the strongest man coverage beaters in the 2025 regular season.
Overall, several players have strong numbers. Topping the list are two Georgia products – Zachariah Branch and Colbie Young. Georgia was the only Pro Day head coach Mike McCarthy attended. Branch was the only reported Pro Day dinner meeting to our knowledge, so the Steelers have a clear interest in him.
Refreshing to see this for the best man coverage beater in the 2026 draft class, with a perfect 158.3 rating when targeted. Branch also had the highest yards per route against man coverage in the group. In our opinion, this is an important way Pittsburgh should judge the 2026 WR class, and Branch certainly fits the bill against man coverage.
140-plus players include Carnell Tate and Brenen Thompson. Pittsburgh met with Tate at the combine, while Thompson posted the best yards per reception at 32.8 (second-best was 29.7).
Some notables in the 130 range as well. Washington’s Denzel Boston is another receiver Pittsburgh has shown interest in. He scored eight touchdowns against man coverage, topping this year’s draft class. KC Conception and Chris Bell round out this group. So far, we see several early-round prospects who were successful against man coverage that Pittsburgh can choose from.
Nine players land in the 120 tier. Skyler Bell of Connecticut led the draft class with 46 targets against man coverage, with that volume being quite notable. He also led the way in yardage, 65 more than second place (USC’s Makai Lemon).
Ten more players were in the 110 range. Baylor’s Josh Cameron had the most routes against man (138), but a low target percentage (15.9 percent). Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson had a class-leading 43.6 man target rate. Skyler Bell came in second (41.8 percent), and Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt (39.0 percent) rounded out the top three.
Five of the 44 qualifying wide receivers fared poorly in the stat – LSU’s Barion Brown, Harrison Wallace III of Ole Miss, Georgia State’s Ted Hurst, Wisconsin’s Vinny Anthony II, and Chris Hilton Jr. of LSU. Not much interest from Pittsburgh on that short list of names.
Signs point to the Steelers wanting a man-coverage beater at wide receiver. There certainly seems to be plenty to choose from.