Steelers' Players Who Won't Live up to Hype in 2024 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers took some risks with their offensive plan in the NFL offseason.

Russell Wilson is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career and Pittsburgh presents him with what could be his last opportunity to be a starter.

The Steelers also took a big gamble by dealing Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. George Pickens seems suited to take control of the No. 1 wide out role, but there are questions regarding the players behind him on the depth chart.

Pittsburgh's running back situation will also be under scrutiny because of how close Jaylen Warren got to taking Najee Harris' job in 2023.

Warren could end the 2024 season as the starter and that may lead to the first sub-1,000-yard season of Harris' career.

Russell Wilson

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 6: Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass during the Pittsburgh Steelers OTA offseason workout at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 6 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Russell Wilson comes into Pittsburgh with an immense amount of pressure on him to succeed.

Wilson's season with the Denver Broncos did not go as planned and it resulted in him landing in the AFC North.

Wilson not only carries the internal pressure to be better than last season, but he also faces external pressure from Justin Fields, who himself is looking to prove he can still be an NFL starter.

Fields is the younger and more mobile option for the Steelers, and he will be talked about at every underperforming second of Wilson's season.

Wilson barely threw for 3,000 yards in Denver and had just 26 touchdown passes. Those numbers are not good enough when you compare them to the elite quarterbacks across the NFL.

Wilson maybe has one more good season left in him, but we may not see that with Fields waiting in the wings to take over.

Van Jefferson

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 6: Van Jefferson #11 of the Pittsburgh Steelers works out during the Pittsburgh Steelers OTA offseason workout at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 6 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

The Steelers might be taking an even bigger risk at wide receiver.

Van Jefferson was brought in to be a key piece of the passing game behind George Pickens.

However, Jefferson has had a disappointing NFL career outside of his 800-yard season with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.

Jefferson managed just 209 receiving yards between the Rams and Atlanta Falcons last season.

Expectations are low for Jefferson, but he does have some pressure on him as the current No. 2 behind Pickens.

Rookie Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III could fly past Jefferson on the depth chart, and if that is the case, he may be relegated to spotty on-field duty, like he was in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Najee Harris

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 06: Najee Harris #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball up the field in the second quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Najee Harris can still have a strong season while also not living up to the hype.

The Steelers running back set an incredibly high bar for himself with three straight 1,000-yard seasons to open his NFL career.

A fourth consecutive 1,000-yard campaign is under threat from Jaylen Warren's improved performance.

Warren gave the Steelers two different looks at running back. He is already a major asset in the passing game and could take more carries away from Harris in 2024.

Harris should still be an integral part of the offense, especially if the quarterbacks struggle, but the standard 1,000-yard season could be out of reach due to a closer to 50-50 split with Warren.