For the Pittsburgh Steelers to contend for the playoffs this season, these five players will need to deliver:
Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback: Little surprise here, but a healthy and motivated Roethlisberger could catalyze a legitimate Super Bowl run. Roethlisberger has plenty of fuel to put up an MVP-type season. He was salty about the team selecting quarterback Mason Rudolph in the third round, he’s got a contract extension to negotiate in the future and wants at least one more ring for the home office. At 36, he plans to show he’s far from done. And he’s got a bevy of playmakers surrounding him, including two of the league’s best in Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, wide receiver: It’s easy to place Brown in this spot, but everyone knows what he can do. Smith-Schuster carrying his rookie momentum into Year 2 is crucial for the identity of the Steelers' offense in 2018. Smith-Schuster showed he can ball after 917 yards and seven touchdowns last year, but he still must prove he can consistently beat elite cornerbacks on the outside and help offset the loss of Martavis Bryant via trade. Smith-Schuster is due for at least 100 targets in 2018. Expect him to create more splash with them.
Bud Dupree, outside linebacker: The Steelers have a budding star in linebacker T.J. Watt, and Dupree has the potential to become one, but it hasn’t happened yet. Dupree finished last year with six sacks but believes he left many more on the field. He’s eyeing the Steelers’ first double-digit-sack season for an outside linebacker since 2010. A sizable jump from Dupree would help solidify the front seven, which already features a potent end duo with Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt. The Steelers need Dupree to make plays in pass coverage and get to the quarterback more often.
Artie Burns, cornerback: Last year’s Steelers showed promise in coverage before finishing 28th in passing defense thanks to late-season lapses. Still, Pittsburgh’s cornerback lineup is its deepest in years, with veteran Joe Haden and Artie Burns the lead outside corners and Mike Hilton in the slot. Burns, a first-round pick in 2016, has the physical tools to be a high-level corner. He hasn’t put it all together just yet. A more complete performance from him in 2018 would help solidify the back end for coordinator Keith Butler.
Marcus Gilbert, right tackle: Last year couldn’t have gone much worse for Gilbert, who missed five games due to injury and another four to a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. But he’s still one of the game’s best right tackles. The Steelers’ offensive line has more of an edge when Gilbert is leading the way on the right side. At age 30, Gilbert, a free agent in 2020, is eyeing one more contract, and his play should be money next year. He reported to offseason workouts in good shape, and the cohesiveness of a veteran line should help.