5 best training camp battles for Steelers in 2019

2. Wide receiver 2

Donte Moncrief vs. James Washington vs. Diontae Johnson

It’s pretty simple. You just don’t replace the kind of numbers that wide receiver Antonio Brown produced for this club the past six seasons. A year ago, second-year pro Juju Smith-Schuster came into his own and actually led the team with 111 catches and 1,426 receiving yards. But it was Brown who hauled in 104 passes, good for 1,297 yards and a league-best 15 scores through the air.

Dating back to 2013, the nine-year veteran has amassed an impressive 686 receptions for 9,145 yards and 67 touchdowns while missing only four games for various reasons. He’s caught at least 100 passes in an NFL-record six consecutive seasons and counting. And thanks to a trade this offseason with the Oakland Raiders, a seventh straight year of hitting a c-note in this area will have to come with the Silver and Black.

So who will be the main threat opposite Smith-Schuster this year? The early indications seem to lean veteran Donte Moncrief, who has apparently been impressive since joining the organization this offseason after five years with the Indianapolis Colts (4) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1). But the Steelers did use a third-round pick in April on Diontae Johnson (Toledo). And following a very disappointing debut campaign this past season, 2018 second-round choice James Washington could be on the verge of some great things.

“A guy from Oklahoma State,” said Smith-Schuster to Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “won the Biletnikoff (award), came into us his rookie year, kind of started off slow. But these past summer workouts we had, he’s been doing amazing. I’m super excited to see how he does this year. He’s our guy that’s going to sneak up on everybody.”

This is a franchise that has had the Midas touch when it comes to wide receivers. And with the prolific Brown now elsewhere, will there be a lot more throws to other targets this season?

Next: No. 1