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Sadly for Pittsburgh Steelers followers, the day they’ve been dreading for a very long time is rapidly approaching. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, a participant beloved by the town, will hit free company in 2021. With cap house constraints and a number of other gamers to make selections on, the place might Smith-Schuster find yourself taking part in in 2021?
The longer term for JuJu Smith-Schuster couldn’t have regarded higher
If there’s one factor the Pittsburgh Steelers do effectively, it’s discovering and growing broad receiver expertise. Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, and now Chase Claypool.
Smith-Schuster rapidly established himself as one of many NFL’s future superstars. In his rookie season, Smith-Schuster caught 58 passes for 917 yards and 7 touchdowns. His 2018 season blew it out of the water. Whereas paired with Antonio Brown, he was unbelievable on the Steelers’ offense. Smith-Schuster noticed an astounding 166 targets in his second 12 months — fourth within the NFL and solely two behind Brown. He hauled in 111 of these passes for 1,426 receiving yards (fifth) and 7 touchdowns.
Between Brown and Smith-Schuster, the pair mixed for 215 receptions, 2,723 yards, and 22 touchdowns. Collectively, the duo made historical past. Their 2018 season collectively was solely the second time post-merger {that a} staff had two receivers catch 100+ passes and every have over 1,000 receiving yards. It first occurred in 1995 for the Detroit Lions with Brett Perriman and Herman Moore. Then once more, 10 years later, by the duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in 2005.
Can JuJu Smith-Schuster be a staff’s WR1 in free company?
Within the two season’s post-Brown, Smith-Schuster has by no means been in a position to recapture his sophomore season’s dominance.
A part of this involves a misplaced 2019 season that was led by Mason Rudolph. The Steelers offense was a shell of itself and couldn’t maintain drives. With Ben Roethlisberger “wholesome”, issues have been higher. Smith-Schuster caught 97 of 128 targets for 831 yards and 9 touchdowns in 16 video games. Nonetheless, he was second on the staff in targets and yards to Diontae Johnson and fifth in yards per reception.
Enjoying primarily as a slot WR on the Steelers offense, he noticed a 19.5% goal share in 2020. He’s sensible. He is aware of how you can get into zones, sit down, and use his physique to present a QB a dependable goal to throw to, even in tight protection.
If he could be a staff’s WR1 stays to be seen. Nonetheless, he will likely be paid like one, as JuJu Smith-Schuster will doubtless carry a excessive price ticket in free company in 2021.
The place are some attainable areas that JuJu Smth-Schuster might land throughout free company in 2021?
No matter the place JuJu Smith-Schuster lands in 2021, he could have loads of groups calling his cellphone making an attempt to land the previous USC WR in free company.
May the Steelers re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster in free company?
The Steelers love him. Head coach Mike Tomlin loves him. The town loves him, and so do the homeowners who write the checks. Smith-Schuster has made it identified that he desires to stick with the staff too. Earlier within the season, throughout an appearance on the ‘All Things Covered’ podcast, Smith-Schuster expressed how generally the grass will not be all the time greener.
“I’d like to be a Pittsburgh Steeler for all times. I’ve talked to different teammates who’re on different organizations and it doesn’t actually work out for them very effectively. Simply because they’re providing more cash, the grass will not be all the time greener on the opposite facet. I sort of like the place I’m at with the grass I’m on. It’s very inexperienced. I’ve already established my model, myself on this group.”
He did it once more, this time on his Instagram account. The place he posted a picture of the town with the caption, “No, cap, I wouldn’t thoughts staying right here one other 4 years.”
The problem would be the wage cap to drag this off sadly
The Steelers are going to be dealing with cap points in 2021. At the moment, they’re projected to be over the wage cap by $21.789 million, based on Over The Cap.
Over the Cap additionally estimates the 2021 wage cap will be $176 million, a lower of $22.2 million or 11.2 % from 2020. There are additionally different guys needing to be paid. Bud Dupree was taking part in on a franchise tag in 2020 and is due a brand new contract. CB Joe Haden, DL Cameron Heyward, LT Alejandro Villanueva, RB James Conner are all going to be free brokers. LB T.J. Watt can be coming into his contract season, and they should lock him up earlier than the season ends.
All in all, the Steelers have depth at WR to soak up the lack of JuJu Smith-Schuster and are money strapped. May they get it carried out? Completely, but it surely may not be the perfect long-term determination.
The Miami Dolphins might land JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2021’s free company interval
The Dolphins are forward of schedule of their rebuild. Miami nearly made the playoffs and have two first-round picks in 2021, together with the third decide from Houston.
The Dolphins imagine Tua Tagovailoa is the QB of the longer term, and the staff could have a brand new offensive coordinator following the resignation of OC Chan Gailey.
Miami wants weapons on the skin. DeVante Parker is okay however at occasions can’t get separation. Preston Williams, whereas seemingly proficient, can’t keep wholesome. Outdoors of these two, they lack one other skilled WR choice.
It’s doubtless they add one of many proficient receivers on this 12 months’s draft class and will herald JuJu Smith-Schuster as effectively by way of free company. With the third decide, the Dolphins might draft Ja’Marr Chase from LSU and have Smith-Schuster play the slot function whereas Chase works the perimeter. They’d have two stud go catchers, each below the age of 24, and could possibly be collectively for one more 4 years. The wage cap can be not a problem because the Dolphins have a projected cap house of $33.36 million heading into 2021.
New England desperately wants receiver assist
Few groups within the NFL are extra devoid of offensive expertise than the New England Patriots. N’Keal Harry will not be growing, whereas Julian Edelman is persistently banged up and 34 years outdated. In 2020, their prime receiver was a UDFA from NC State.
Including JuJu Smith-Schuster in free company and pairing him with a brand new QB might assist get the Patriots again on monitor for 2021.
May JuJu Smith-Schuster head to Las Vegas in 2021’s free company interval?
If Derek Carr goes to succeed, he wants somebody to throw to in 2021. Nelson Agholor turned out to be a unbelievable one-year signing that benefited each events. He wager on himself with a one-year contract to play for Jon Gruden for a $910,000 minimal veteran wage and $137,500 signing bonus, producing 48 receptions for 896 yards and eight touchdowns. He gained’t come at that value once more.
Whereas JuJu Smith-Schuster could be dearer, he suits the Jon Gruden fashion of soccer. He might step in and play a bodily, aggressive fashion of soccer and work the center of the sphere with Darren Waller. He can also get vertical and current a dynamic duo with the speedster Henry Ruggs. Cap house could possibly be a problem, because the Raiders are projected to be over the cap by $7.62 million.
The New York Jets are a pure match for JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2021
The Jets have loads of cash to throw round at $72.59 million at the moment below the cap. They want a WR1 on their staff as effectively. Jamison Crowder is a succesful possession WR however not explosive like Smith-Schuster. The staff did choose Denzel Mims, however it’s too early to determine on him attributable to accidents and poor offensive play.
The Jets have the second total decide, and in the event that they select to not carry again Sam Darnold, Justin Fields is the man the Jets ought to choose. He’ll want targets, and including JuJu Smith-Schuster could be a fantastic addition to an in any other case mediocre locker room. Additionally, the town suits his character. Enjoying within the Large Apple below the intense lights is the proper place for Smith-Schuster to proceed to raise his private model alongside his sport on the sphere.
Tommy Garrett is a author for PFN protecting Fantasy Soccer. You possibly can learn more of his work here and observe him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.
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