5 new AFC North players Steelers should be concerned about
By Andrew Falce
Ja’Marr Chase
Of all of the AFC North teams, the Bengals had potentially the best offseason. While not making significant additions to the offensive line besides Jackson Carman (and Riley Reiff, although he is more on the downside of his career), the Bengals loaded up on defense. Frankly, this list could have been entirely comprised of Bengals players as the team appears set to make a leap next season.
One of the Bengals’ best additions to this team was Ja’Marr Chase. While he didn’t play in 2020 due to COVID, his 2019 season was one for the ages. Now, he is set to reunite with his quarterback from that season (Joe Burrow) and he enters a receiving core filled with young talent. Tee Higgins is an ascending player while Tyler Boyd is one of the most consistent slot receivers in the game.
Last year, this wouldn’t have been as concerning, as the Steelers’ secondary was far better than it is shaping up to be this year. Now though, the Steelers will only have two proven starters set to cover these three talented receivers. That means either Chase or Higgins will likely be facing off against James Pierre or whomever the Steelers start at outside corner when Cameron Sutton moves to the slot. While I’m as big of a Pierre fan as anyone, that still isn’t a good matchup. Chase should see plenty of appealing matchups this year, and he showed just how dangerous he could be with Burrow throwing him the ball.