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Keith Srakocic/Related Press
One other day of the offseason has handed, and it is nonetheless unknown whether or not JuJu Smith-Schuster might be again with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2021 season.
After spending his first 4 years within the NFL with the group, the 24-year-old is now one of many high broad receivers on the free-agent market.
Though NFL free company does not start till Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, the authorized tampering interval began Monday, so groups have been negotiating and agreeing to offers with gamers since then. And whereas some notable names have already come off the market, together with a number of broad receivers, Smith-Schuster continues to be out there.
That does not imply there aren’t groups with curiosity in Smith-Schuster, although. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that “various groups” are going to be in on him this offseason, and that might embody Pittsburgh.
“The Steelers need him again, Ben Roethlisberger positively wished him again,” Garafolo stated throughout an look on Good Morning Soccer.
However Smith-Schuster might not have curiosity in returning to Pittsburgh, and it seems extra probably he could possibly be signing with a special group this offseason.
“He’s additionally telling teammates, I can inform you, that he’s prone to head elsewhere for the following portion of his profession,” Garafolo added. “So it does not seem like JuJu Smith-Schuster might be again in Pittsburgh.”
The Steelers chosen Smith-Schuster within the second spherical of the 2017 NFL draft, and he is put up stable numbers throughout his time with the group. His finest season got here in 2018, when he had 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and 7 touchdowns in 16 video games. Final 12 months, he had 97 catches for 831 yards and a career-high 9 touchdowns in 16 video games.
Whereas some free-agent broad receivers have agreed to offers with groups, lots of the high playmakers in the marketplace stay out there. Along with Smith-Schuster, that features Kenny Golladay, Will Fuller V and Curtis Samuel.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Dianna Russini heard from a free-agent broad receiver that “the WR market is actually dangerous proper now.” Nonetheless, there have been some receivers to conform to offers, akin to Marvin Jones Jr., whom Adam Schefter of ESPN reported is heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If the Steelers aren’t in a position to carry again the USC product, they’re going to nonetheless have some gifted offensive gamers, akin to broad receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. Whereas Smith-Schuster would make Pittsburgh’s offense higher, maybe it may signal one other free agent if it could possibly’t conform to a take care of him.
There are many groups that might profit from including Smith-Schuster to their offense.
On Feb. 10, 710 ESPN Seattle‘s John Clayton (h/t Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan) famous the Las Vegas Raiders have been “very ” in Smith-Schuster. And because the authorized tampering interval began, they’ve already misplaced their high broad receiver from 2020, after Nelson Agholor agreed to a take care of the New England Patriots, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Community.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Feb. 9 that the New York Jets have been “having a look” at Smith-Schuster, however they’ve agreed to a take care of Corey Davis, in accordance with Schefter, so perhaps they’re now not aiming to signal a high free-agent broad receiver.
For now, Smith-Schuster stays in the marketplace because the free-agency interval begins. However it seems issues could possibly be trending towards the gifted playmaker becoming a member of a brand new group and getting a recent begin for the 2021 season.
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