3 Steelers positional groups that could be the best in the NFL in 2021
By Tommy Jaggi
Steelers wide receivers
I’m not yet ready to label any wide receiver on the Steelers as a WR1 at this point in time; that title is typically reserved for NFL wide receivers that truly set themselves apart from the rest of the pack. Though they certainly weren’t always consistent in 2020, the youth and depth of this group give it an outside chance to develop into the very best in the league.
Chase Claypool has an extremely rare combination of size and athletic traits for the position and showed the ability to win down the field often in 2020 or draw penalties trying. Meanwhile, Diontae Johnson has an innate ability to beat the press and create quick separation. He could develop into a great “X” receiver if he can clean up his drop issues.
In addition to this, JuJu Smith-Schuster is one of the better slot receivers in the league (though he has voiced that he wants to play more on the outside), while James Washington is a reliable receiver who can pluck the ball out of the air and pose as a deep threat.
Obviously, the success of this group will be directly tied to the quarterback play. However, if Ben Roethlisberger can take a step up being another year removed from his elbow surgery, the sky is the limit for this deep group of wide receivers.
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With 32 teams in the NFL and hundreds of extremely talented players, the Steelers will be fortunate to have just one of these positional groups turn out to be the best in the league. However, the potential is all there for these three groups to be great. If young players continue to develop, all three could be among the best in the league in 2021.