Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Early bold predictions for 2018 season

4. Jaylen Samuels finishes with 1,000+ offensive yards

One of my personal favorite prospects of the 2018 draft class, Jaylen Samuels boasts a wide array of tools that should help him shine early. So much so that, by the time his rookie campaign is over, he’ll already be considered a huge steal by Pittsburgh fans.

The 2018 fifth-round pick was a dangerous weapon during his career at NC State. Not only was he an explosive running back (the position the Steelers drafted him as), but he was an unstoppable force in the passing game. He lined up at H-back, tight end and in the slot, proving to be an invaluable piece of the Wolfpack’s passing attack.

Now in Pittsburgh, Samuels should enjoy a similar role as a do-it-all offensive weapon. Whether he’s picking up tough yards on the ground or hauling in clutch passes to move the sticks, he’ll quickly prove that he was completely overlooked during April’s draft.

Samuels starts by leapfrogging James Connor as the No. 2 running back. Then, he quickly earns a role as a complementary piece to Le’Veon Bell, stealing snaps from the All-Pro. By the time the season ends, he will have amassed over 1,000 total offensive yards between the ground and air.

His emergence may even be enough to convince the Steelers to let Bell walk in 2019…