3 reasons why Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is overrated

The Steelers found a good receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster, but here’s why he’s not the player many fans and analysts make him out to be.

Just from reading the title of this article, I’m willing to bet at least half of you are offended. I apologize for that. But I feel the need to share my thoughts on JuJu Smith-Schuster once more. The Steelers wide receiver is entering a contract year, and Pittsburgh needs to decide very soon whether or not they will try to clear some cap space and give him an extension.

For the right price, I’m all in favor of that. However, with JuJu’s reputation and his Pro Bowl season he witnessed with Antonio Brown opposite of him in 2018, there’s no chance he comes back on a reasonable deal.

Smith-Schuster started his career as a strong number three receiver for Pittsburgh, and eventually outpaced Martavis Bryant in snaps partway through his rookie year. In 2018, JuJu saw the best season of his career with a 111 catch, 1426 yard performance that earned him Pro Bowl honors at the age of 22.

JuJu knows that he’s about to become one of the league’s wealthiest receivers if he stays healthy in 2020. This is where I draw the line. While there’s no debating that Smith-Schuster wasn’t a slamdunk pick by the Steelers in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, I can’t justify keeping him around for the money he’s about to make.

There are three reasons why I think JuJu is a little overrated and is going to be paid too much on his second contract: