5 reasons Steelers can win the Super Bowl this year

4. James Washington is a potential star

The debate as to whether or not Juju Smith-Schuster has what it takes to be a No. 1 wide receiver continues to rage on in Pittsburgh. That might be the wrong question to ask about the Steelers’ receiving corps in 2020. The right query is whether or not James Washington can take on that sort of responsibility.

The former Oklahoma State star bounced back from a mediocre rookie campaign to post very respectable totals in his sophomore season. He managed to catch 44 passes for 735 yards despite the questionable cast of quarterbacks he was forced to play with.

If he can take another solid step forward in 2020 there’s no reason to believe he can’t be just as impactful for this offense as Smith-Schuster. He might lack the high-end speed required to be an elite NFL receiver, but he’s got the hands and savvy route-running capabilities required to flirt with 100 catches on an annual basis.

The Steelers know they can make big plays with Roethlisberger at the helm. The progress the offense needs to make is to find way to keep the chains moving when opposing secondaries take the deep ball away. Washington’s development into a quality starter is a big storyline to watch for Pittsburgh.