By Jared Villani
SteelerNation.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2019 rookie class is full of potential and playmaking ability, so it won't be surprising to see the Steelers newcomers make an instant impact. Linebacker Devin Bush, wide receiver Diontae Johnson and cornerback Justin Layne may be out on the field a lot more than expected once the new season kicks off.
Bush is expected to play a huge role in the team's defense, while Layne is likely on his way to knocking cornerback Artie Burns out of the picture after continuous troubles. In regards to the offense, Johnson may be sliding into the team's slot receiver role sooner rather than later after drawing comparisons to former Steelers receiver, Emmanuel Sanders.
Unfortunately, for veterans like linebacker Vince Williams and wide receiver Ryan Switzer, the young guns may be more of a threat than they had anticipated. The Steelers rookie class has been highly impressive this off-season so far. While many may not be surprised Devin Bush is standing out in practices, Justin Layne is making a lot of noise and is showing all the makings of a being a legitimate steal for the Steelers. Layne has been highly regarded as one of the more complete cornerbacks to come out of this year's draft, and the Steelers were fortunate enough to get him in the third round.
While the Steelers receiving corps has a lot of potential, there is not much certainty outside of JuJu Smith-Schuster. While Ryan Switzer has offered some speed and a solid set of hands, Diontae Johnson could slide into the slot receiver role which may leave Switzer seeing most of his opportunities happen on special teams.
Regardless of the team's depth chart or who is standing out so far, the veterans and rookies will likely thrive off one another and the competition is a normality the players have experienced throughout their careers. This 2019 Steelers roster has a new look this season, but the talent and potential are the last aspects that should be questioned of this hungry team looking to get back to the postseason.
Who do you think our biggest playmaker will be in 2019? Comment below!
#SteelerNation
