Now that the NFL Draft is over and offseason workouts begin, the Pittsburgh Steelers will join the rest of the NFL in identifying players that can help them progress in 2019. As always, the team has Super Bowl aspirations as well as the talent to get there.

Unlike in years past, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a group of emerging young stars that they will lean on heavily following the departure of Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Below I have highlighted some players who will help replace those lost stars and will look to make a star of their own in the Steel City. Some players listed may have started an early emergence in 2018, while others are still lurking in the shadows. Opportunity is the name of the game, and the players highlighted here will have plenty during the 2019 season.

James Washington – Wide receiver

Washington looked prime for a significant role heading into 2018, but that role never materialized. Antonio Brown continued his dominance while JuJu Smith-Schuster continued to develop into one of the league’s brightest young stars. Combine that with the emergence of Ryan Switzer in the slot, and there were only scraps left for Washington in the Pittsburgh passing game. Head Coach Mike Tomlin expects success for the second-year wide receiver, according to Chris Adamski.

Mike Tomlin on the group of WRs the Steelers have at the moment heading into the draft: “I’m comfortable with the guys we have in the room at this juncture.”

But lays down a gauntlet that he expects James Washington to take a big leap in Year 2 for him. — Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) April 22, 2019

Fast forward one year and now Washington will look to step into the role that Antonio Brown left following his trade to Oakland. That void will not be his entirely to fill. Pittsburgh drafted Diontae Johnson of Toledo in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh also signed former Jaguars and Colts receiver Donte Moncrief this offseason. JuJu will be the new number one in the Steel City, but there’s a reason to believe Washington could develop as the number two option in this passing attack.

Washington was prolific in college, posting three straight seasons of over 1,000 yards and double-digit scores to close out his career. He is a physical target with strong hands that can help replace some of Antonio’s targets underneath. He also has the deep speed needed to beat defenses over the top. This balances with JuJu’s game, keeping defenses honest in the wake of Brown’s departure. The opportunity and the potential are there. Washington should be able to cash in as a second-year breakout target for the Steelers.

Jaylen Samuels – Running back

Samuels showed a bit of his potential while filling in for James Connor last season. He will enter 2019 as more of a 1b to Connor’s 1a in the Pittsburgh backfield. While Connor appears to be firmly entrenched as the starter, I believe Samuels showed enough in 2018 to carve out a significant role this year. He is a slightly better option in the passing game and should take over that role permanently as the season wears on.

Samuels was a Swiss Army Knife of versatility and production at North Carolina State. It flashed greatly his rookie season. He had two games last season with seven receptions each. Samuels also rushed for 142 yards in a win against the Patriots. These numbers show the type of upside Samuels possesses. He is a competent receiver, but he also has an excellent nose for the end zone. That scoring prowess could make him a threat to Connor’s goal line touches as well.

James Connor must prove he can stay healthy and productive in this offense. However, Pittsburgh can ensure Connor’s health but sharing the backfield with the talented Samuels. The two can provide the team with a great one-two punch in 2019. Whether he is the starter or not, if Samuels can improve even a little on his 2018 production, he will be a reasonably decent breakout candidate.

Matt Feiler – Offensive tackle

There were a few worthy candidates here, but I will stick with the offensive theme here and go with Matt Feiler. He is not a household name, but Feiler is the favorite to start in 2019. He will be the bookend to Pro Bowl left tackle Alejandro Villanueva. That enough warrants him enough consideration for a prominent spot in the players to watch for 2019. Feiler received the exclusive rights tender in March, which he signed and will bring him back into the fold for the Steelers.

Feiler had a bit of a mini-breakout in 2018 and will look to continue his strong play this season. He was a relative unknown from Bloomsburg when he replaced Marcus Gilbert in the starting lineup Week 3 against the Buccaneers. Feiler went on to make nine more starts during the season, as Gilbert struggled with a hamstring injury.

He is a huge man at 6’6″, 330 lbs and is an absolute mauler in the run game. He also fared well enough in the passing game to earn the opportunity of protecting Ben Roethlisberger. If Feiler can continue on his success from last season, the Steelers will continue to roll in 2019. Marcus Gilbert was traded to Arizona before the 2019 Draft, so the job belongs to Feiler. I believe he will take it and run with it as one of the real breakouts of the 2019 season.