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Joe Douglas won’t be completed upgrading his receiving corps.
The Jets are speaking to Steelers free agent wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This comes after New York agreed to signal Corey Davis earlier this week.
Smith-Schuster is among the greatest younger slot receivers in the marketplace and can be a fantastic addition to the Jets offense underneath Mike LaFleur. He led the NFL with 81 receptions and 9 touchdowns from the slot place, in accordance with Pro Football Focus, with 16 different receptions and 831 whole receiving yards in 2020.
It’s not a foregone conclusion Smith-Schuster would wish to be part of the Jets, although. Not solely are Steelers nonetheless fascinated about a reunion, in accordance with NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, however Smith-Schuster has additionally mentioned he’d wish to return to Pittsburgh and compete for a championship if he had his selection.
“I don’t know if I can go to a group and so they’re not competing,” he told the Fierce Talk program with Ryan Garcia.“They may provide me probably the most cash, however on the finish of the day, I’ve simply acquired to see what suits greatest for me. With that being mentioned, I want a quarterback, I wish to compete for the playoffs, I wish to win a hoop.”
The quarterback situation stays the largest query mark this offseason for the Jets. Joe Douglas hasn’t determined if he’ll hold Sam Darnold, draft a rookie or commerce for a veteran. That unknown will doubtless weigh on any offensive free agent this offseason, together with Smith-Schuster, who performed with Darnold in faculty at USC.
The Jets even have a fantastic slot receiver already on the roster in Jamison Crowder, however Smith-Schuster can be an improve due to his age and athleticism. Smith-Schuster is simply 24 years outdated, whereas Crowder might be 28 by the point the season begins. He’s additionally produced extra receptions, yards and touchdowns than Crowder since 2017 however has solely averaged 0.4 extra yards per reception over that span.
The Jets might simply hold each in the event that they resolve to signal Smith-Schuster, however they might additionally save $10.375 million in the event that they minimize Crowder with simply $1 million in useless cap. Crowder proved to be efficient and priceless to the Jets in 2020 regardless of a depleted receiving corps. Crowder additionally completed with the next common in yards per route run, yards after the catch per reception and missed tackles pressured per reception than Smith-Schuster, in accordance with Jets X-Factor’s Michael Nania.
The Shanahan-style offense the Jets will doubtless run in 2021 wants as many harmful pass-catchers as attainable. Proper now, the Jets have three with the trio of Davis, Crowder and Denzel Mims. Tight finish Chris Herndon continues to be a giant query mark and not one of the operating backs are good receivers. Smith-Schuster is a pleasant luxurious the Jets are a minimum of fascinated about pursuing. He would give the Jets a bevy of offensive weapons.
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