4 breakout candidates for the Pittsburgh Steelers during 2021 season
By Tommy Jaggi
The Pittsburgh Steelers already have several big stars, but here are four players who could break out with spectacular seasons in 2021.
The 2021 NFL season is just around the corner and fans are speculating as to which players could potentially breakout for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. Last year, there were a few candidates who seemed to be on the cusp of doing so, and they could make our predictions a reality early this season.
With the Steelers at the tail end of a Super Bowl window as Ben Roethlisberger enters what could be his last season in the NFL, there is no better time than now for some young players to rise to the occasion and become studs we can count on for this team. Here are my top four breakout candidates in 2021:
Steelers EDGE Alex Highsmith
This one shouldn’t surprise anyone, as Alex Highsmith has been the star of the summer for the Steelers. During training camp, Highsmith effortlessly and routinely beat both Dan Moore Jr. and Chukwuma Okorafor in OL vs DL drills. He carried these dominant practice sessions underneath the lights in his preseason games this year – earning remarkable grades in limited action.
Last year, expectation started relatively low for the 3rd-round pick, as the former Charlotte walk-on was about to make a tremendous jump in competition from a small school to the NFL. However, Highsmith didn’t disappoint.
After filling in for the injured Bud Dupree, Highsmith didn’t skip a beat. While the statistical production was nothing to write home about, he was rock solid as both a run defender and a pass rusher. With another offseason of NFL weight training under his belt, he could be ready to develop into a star for this team in 2021.