J.J. Watt Defends Brother T.J.’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year Resume

With the beginning of free company simply over a month away, ESPN has launched their most closely fits for the Prime 50 gamers accessible, together with Steelers extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, left deal with Alejandro Villanueva and out of doors linebacker Bud Dupree.

Though he has expressed a want to stay in Pittsburgh, the Steelers’ dire wage cap state of affairs may forestall them from resigning Smith-Schuster.

Because of this, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler sees the New York Jets as an affordable vacation spot for the 24-year-old, citing Smith-Schuster as an ideal slot in new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s scheme. Smith-Schuster would make a dependable goal for quarterback Sam Darnold or whoever the Jets choose with the No. 2-overall decide, filling the function occupied by Deebo Samuel within the San Francisco 49ers offense.

Rated because the seventh-most coveted free agent this cycle, ESPN projected Dupree to the Tennessee Titans. Whereas he’s nonetheless recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2020 season, Dupree’s restoration seems to be going as deliberate.

Dupree would offer a big raise to a lackluster Titans cross rush that mustered simply 19 sacks a season in the past.

Villanueva’s Steelers tenure additionally seems all however sure to return to an finish this offseason, one other casualty of the crew’s monetary state of affairs.

ESPN sees the 32-year-old becoming in properly with the Los Angeles Chargers, who’ve been trying to find their left deal with for a while. The transfer would additionally reunite Villanueva with former offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett, who was employed because the Chargers’ assistant offensive line coach a couple of weeks in the past.

The Steelers may additionally lose certainly one of their slot cornerbacks in Mike Hilton or Cameron Sutton. In response, the franchise may pluck a former division rival to slip into their roles.

After lacking out on him by one decide within the 2017 NFL Draft, ESPN believes the Steelers may lastly get their arms on Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Will Jackson III in free company.

As well as, starters Steven Nelson and Joe Haden are getting old and set to hit free company themselves in 2022. Signing the 28-year-old would give the Steelers a confirmed veteran with considerably much less tread on his tires for years to return.

Jackson recorded three interceptions and 41 passes defended over 4 seasons in Cincinnati.

Dak to Carolina
JuJu to Jets
Hunter Henry to Indy
Patrick Peterson to Raiders

We suggest 50 free company matches, together with intel from across the league on the highest gamers accessible. https://t.co/rwA3LDHr1v

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 9, 2021