Once a strength, plenty of questions for Steelers WR group in 2020

For myriad reasons, it seems like a lifetime ago. But it was only 17 months ago the Pittsburgh Steelers had what seemed to be the envy of the NFL in regards to wide receivers corps.

A 1-2 punch that would combine for 215 catches, 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns that season was unmatched in the league. Toss in a promising recent second-round pick who, although he had struggled as a rookie, was a big-play machine in college. Plus, a pair of savvy, reliable slot receivers who fit perfectly within their niche in the offense.

In December 2018, the Steelers appeared on top of the WR world with Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Eli Rogers and Ryan Switzer. None of that group was past his prime; three were 24 or younger.

Brown was on his way to being a surefire Hall of Famer, and Smith-Schuster had an 111-catch, 1,426-yard season during a year in which he turned 22 on Thanksgiving.

But things for the Steelers’ receivers position room began to go downhill starting the day after Christmas 2018, when Brown got into a practice spat with Ben Roethlisberger. The infamous sequence of events that followed ultimately resulted in a trade to the Oakland Raiders.

As things sit now, midway through this unique NFL offseason, Brown is out of the league. Rogers, too. Smith-Schuster is coming off a highly disappointing and injury-riddled season. The same could be said about Switzer. Washington has just 60 catches and four touchdowns through two NFL seasons.

Pro Football Focus recently pegged the Steelers as the 18th-best wide receivers corps in the NFL. That trailed, for basis of comparison, Cleveland (ninth) and Cincinnati (11th) in their own division.

In some ways, 18th might be charitable: per PFF’s subjective ratings last season, the Steelers ranked dead last in the NFL (though that rating takes into account all eligible pass-catchers).

Even after spending plenty of recent draft capital at wide receiver, The Steelers enter the 2020 season with more questions than answers at the position. Each of the past four drafts, one of their top two picks has been a wide receiver. All were drafted between No. 49-66 overall, including this year’s top Steelers pick, Chase Claypool.

“A big thing is going into the right situation wherever you get drafted,” Claypool said. “Obviously, you can’t control that, but some guys get lucky enough to be put in that situation.”

For the second time in a span of seven regular-season games, JuJu Smith-Schuster fumbled away a likely Pittsburgh Steelers victory last October.

The memories from that Oct. 6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens linger.https://t.co/vi3PwqyqSx

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 22, 2020

The projected top four on the Steelers WR depth chart — Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, Washington and Claypool — will be between 22 and 24 years old when the season is scheduled to kick off. There is reason to believe each can fill his role:

• Smith-Schuster’s resume already includes a WR1-type season

• Johnson led the Steelers in catches and receiving yards last season as a rookie

• Washington has exhibited enough improvement to spur hope he could display the traits that led to 40 career touchdowns at Oklahoma State

• Claypool has a rare combination of size (6-4, 238), speed (4.42 in the 40) and production at a big-time school (1,037 yards, 13 touchdowns as a senior at Notre Dame) that figures to translate to the pro game

“You’ve got guys that do have these types of phenomenal, physical traits that allow them to do certain things,” offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said. “You know, naturally as a coach, you get excited about that opportunity.”

But until Smith-Schuster produces without the benefit of Brown around to siphon away double-teams, doubts will linger he is a true No. 1. Although Johnson fared well as a rookie, it wasn’t definitively proven he’s an upper-echelon receiver. Another mediocre season from Washington nudges him closer to a “bust” designation. And with a scouting community polarized by Claypool’s skillset, he has plenty to prove having not yet stepped onto an NFL practice field.

The X-factor is Roethlisberger’s return after missing all but six quarters of last season because of elbow surgery. As Smith-Schuster put it Friday on NFL Network, “our missing piece (in 2019) was Ben.”

“I really like where we’re heading at the beginning of last season and offseason with young James Washington and Diontae,” Fichtner said, “and it’s just going to be really another opportunity for Ben to share his leadership style, his want to, his drive, and instill it in another young wide receiver.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.