Jaylen Samuels

James Conner's injury woes opened the door for Samuels to establish himself as a big part of the future of the Pittsburgh offense, but instead he may have ensured his stint in black and gold is a short one. There was certainly plenty of turmoil around him, but there's simply no excusing a 2.7 YPC, and Samuels made little impact as a receiver either despite a healthy 57 targets. The NC State product's versatility remains his strongest asset, as Samuels can be used as a running back, wildcat quarterback, or get split out as a receiver, but his lack of experience as a runner shows in his poor vision and inability to find the yards his blocking creates for him. Benny Snell's adequate showing as a rookie, and the addition of speedster Anthony McFarland in the 2020 draft, potentially leave Samuels without a defined role in the Steelers' backfield behind Conner, but his receiving skills also give him upside if he can establish some chemistry with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger.

Le'Veon Bell's protracted exit from Pittsburgh put James Conner in the lead role for most of last year, but Samuels also got his chances to shine. The rookie didn't see an offensive snap until Week 5 and didn't see double-digit snaps until Week 10, but after Conner went down late in the season Samuels exploded for 142 rushing yards in a win over the Patriots. The NC State product checks in at 6-0, 225, and while he doesn't run with as much power as his frame would suggest, he has good speed and receiving skills and can line up in the backfield, in the slot or out wide. He also showed surprising vision and patience last season despite his limited experience as a ballcarrier, after playing a mixture of running back, H-back and tight end in college. Conner returns as the No. 1 and the Steelers added Benny Snell in the fourth round of the draft, but Samuels is positioned once again to be the team's top backup, as well as a versatile option in situations when the team's pass-happy offense wants to keep the opposition guessing.

Calling Samuels a running back likely misstates his role in the NFL, as he may not do a whole lot of rushing. At 5-11, 225, the NC State product put up an eyebrow-raising 4.54 40 time at the Combine after spending the majority of his college career as an H-back. Taken by the Steelers in the fifth round, Samuels could find himself lining up all over the field as a slot receiver, fullback, tight end or H-back. His skills as a receiver will make him a mismatch against most linebackers, and his ability to get some power behind his pads could also allow him to be an option on goal-line plunges in between his bubble screens and jet sweeps. New coordinator Randy Fichtner has been on the Pittsburgh staff since 2007 - Ben Roethlisberger's fourth season in the NFL - and his experience could prove invaluable as the offense tries to find a way to best utilize its new toy.