PITTSBURGH — If any one Steelers receiver won out in 2019, it was Diontae Johnson.

But wasn’t good and still isn’t great for Pittsburgh. Double coverage, quarterback changes and injuries robbed JuJu Smith-Schuster of a productive campaign the year before he was set to open negotiations on a contract extension.

As is, he’s not well positioned to sign anything long term. And the Steelers receiving corps remains unsettled post-Antonio Brown. So as we begin our review of Pittsburgh’s entire roster and depth chart, we start with the position we know the least about:

JuJu Smith-Schuster

Smith-Schuster gets another lap around the NFL track trying to prove he’s a No. 1 receiver. He didn’t in 2019, and how much of that is on him will be seen in the season to come. His contract expires after this season, at which point we’ll all find out if he’s getting Emmanuel Sanders money or hits the Brown, primary wideout money track. The first words to wisdom of 2020 will come in the spring when we find out just how injured he was late in the season. And maybe he’ll get to play catch with Ben Roethlisberger then, too.

Diontae Johnson

Johnson got drafted not necessarily needing to be a contributor. He ended the season as the Steelers’ most dangerous player on the field. Regardless of who’s quarterback in 2020, Pittsburgh will likely still be getting by on divvying up touches for this position group. Yet with 680 yards from 59 catches and 5 touchdowns he’s poised to make opposing defenses respect both sides of Pittsburgh’s formations in 2020.

James Washington

Having a viable No. 3 wideout can be decisive for any team. That looks to be especially true for the 2020 Steelers, and Washington. In spurts, Washington was Pittsburgh’s best receiver last season. Statistically, he was the most productive with 735 yards from 44 receptions for 3 touchdowns.

The challenge for Washington will be carving out and keeping a spot as more than a weak-side receiver who works as a deep threat and decoy. He started to do this with Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges last year.

Ryan Switzer

He has to both recover from a back injury – he was designated to return from injured-reserve in Week 17 – and prove that he has utility beyond being a backup slot receiver and punt returner who probably won’t drop the ball but also hasn’t shown much going forward. Roethlisberger’s return is crucial for him.

Johnny Holton

Holton slotted into Darrius Heyward-Bey’s role as a nearly exclusively special teams player last season. All that does is earn him another shot at doing the same in 2020, though.

Amara Darboh

The former third-round pick should have every chance to impress in offseason and training camp. Though he was promoted to the active roster in Week 5, Darboh didn’t play last year.

Darboh was orphaned in the Sierra Leone Civil War.

Deon Cain

Cain popped up with some late-season plays, but will also very much be on the roster bubble through the end of preseason.

Jamal Custis

He’s a target project player who was an undrafted rookie free agent last season. Pittsburgh brought him onto the practice squad on Dec. 18. He was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of camp.

Quadree Henderson

Henderson is back with a chance to shine his way onto the active roster via special teams.

Anthony Johnson

Johnson was one of the first external futures signings of this year. He played pretty well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2019 preseason. He spent the rest of the campaign on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad. Expect him to be battling for a roster spot well into camp.

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