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The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a transition as the franchise moves on from Ben Roethlisberger. It'll be interesting to see how competitive they'll be, as there are still a few needs the front office should address. Regardless, they'll give it their all with Mike Tomlin leading the way. With the 2022 NFL season quickly approaching, we take a look at three, way too early predictions for the Steelers.
Considering the AFC North is stacked and Pittsburgh is going through a quarterback change, this franchise has an uphill battle ahead. Even so, Tomlin has done an amazing job and has led the Steelers to remain competitive with worse quarterback situations. Many are excited for Kenny Pickett, but Mitchell Trubisky may prove to be the better option for the upcoming season.
Pittsburgh might have to rely on the run game, which is good news for Najee Harris. He proved to be a solid running back and should improve with a year of professional football under his belt. Additionally, the Steelers' defense is still going to be elite and TJ Watt is ready to make some noise. Look for him to be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.
With that said, here are three, way too early predictions for the Steelers' 2022 NFL season.
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Steelers Way Too Early Predictions For The 2022 NFL Season
3. If healthy, Mitchell Trubisky plays all 17 games
Pittsburgh selected Kenny Pickett in the first round of the NFL Draft and he's in a phenomenal situation to succeed. However, considering he's a rookie, the Steelers may opt to give him a year to develop before taking over as the starting quarterback. If that's the case, then Mitchell Trubisky could have a full season to prove himself as a capable option in the NFL.
The last time we saw Trubisky as a starting quarterback it wasn't too pretty. However, he spent a year learning behind Josh Allen and soaking in valuable knowledge to improve his game. He'll have a chance to win the starting job for the Steelers and he could play well enough for Mike Tomlin to keep him in the starting lineup throughout the entire season.
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2. Najee Harris finishes the year top three in rushing yards
Although the offensive line still needs some work, Najee Harris is in line to have a huge year. He showcased a tremendous skill set during his rookie campaign running behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. The Steelers are likely to lean on the rushing attack which bodes well for Harris overall.
If he takes another step in development, then Najee Harris might just be an unstoppable force in the league. He's in a prime situation to be one of the best running backs in the league this year and should make some noise for the Steelers. If everything goes according to plan, we should see Harris end the NFL season within the top three most rushing yards.
1. TJ Watt leads the league in sacks
TJ Watt is the face of this franchise and should be one of the best defenders in the league once again. He is the driving force for this defense and will help the Steelers remain as competitive as possible. For that reason, he has a real chance to lead the league in sacks for the 2022 season. If he can do that, then Pittsburgh should be able to keep up with the rest of the AFC North.
Even though the Steelers lost Stephen Tuitt to retirement, Watt should remain elite at rushing the quarterback. Look for him to make an impact in every single game this year, as Pittsburgh is going to need his production to keep up with the AFC. If he can end the year as the sack leader, then there is a chance TJ Watt takes home the Defensive Player of the Year award as well.
