Miller Could Be A Slot Presence The Steelers Need

Things did not go as expected for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Anthony Miller in 2022.

After a strong training camp, Miller's season was derailed by a season-ending shoulder injury on August 16th. Miller would spend the entire season on the team's injured reserve list.

Even with this, the Steelers re-signed Miller to a one-year contract extension, not solely based on his performance in training camp last year but also because of the potential element he can bring to this year's offense.

It is easy to forget that Miller was once one of the most prolific receivers to ever come out of the AAC. In his college years with the Memphis Tigers, Miller posted back-to-back seasons of 90+ receptions and over 1,400 receiving yards.

After five seasons, his NFL career has not been a reflection of his true talent. His best season to date came in 2019 with the Chicago Bears, when he posted 656 yards on 52 receptions and two touchdowns. Since that season, Miller has struggled to produce offensively at the level many expected when he was drafted.

With the need for a slot receiver, Miller's position versatility could prove valuable, as the team lacked a consistent slot presence this past season. Since his rookie season in 2018, Miller has taken the majority of his snaps in the slot. In 2019, he took 381 snaps in the slot (a 58.8% rate); a year later, this number increased to 490 slot snaps (an 86.3% rate).

Regardless of where he plays his snaps this season, the best version of Miller is one that is healthy. This season represents his best chance to realize his true potential. No matter where he is placed, one should expect him to rise to the occasion.