4 reasons losing JuJu Smith-Schuster is not a big deal for Steelers

The Steelers are likely to lose their most tenured wide receiver in free agency. Here’s why it’s not as big of a deal as people are making it out to be. 

Reality is setting in that JuJu Smith-Schuster will not be with the Steelers in 2021, and both fans and analysts alike are starting to hit the panic button. JuJu is the most tenured and productive wide receiver on the Steelers roster and he’s Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target on third down. For a team that already ranked 22nd in yards per game last season, can they afford to lose one of the most consistent players on their offense?

While JuJu has more than proved his worth as a former second-round draft choice, it would be unwise to think that the Steelers won’t be able to replace his production on the football field. The young wide receiver will likely sign a lucrative new deal with a different organization, but that doesn’t mean that Pittsburgh is going to be struggling without him. Here are four reasons why losing JuJu Smith-Schuster is not a big deal for the Steelers:

JuJu’s production was very modest

I’m going to be quite frank with you. If not for a great statistical season playing second fiddle to Antonio Brown in 2018, nobody would be talking about JuJu as one of the best receivers in the league right now. I know it’s hard, but we have to separate numbers from the player. When faced with as much favorably opportunity as he was given in 2018, it’s no surprise that his numbers were off the charts.

Since then, however, JuJu has seemed incredibly replaceable. Though he is still a beast when it comes to fighting for enough yardage to move the chains, Smith-Schuster does not have any special traits that set him apart from any other slot receiver in the league. He averaged a career-low 6.5 yards per target, and his yards before catch (4.4) and yards after catch (4.2) were both among the worst in the league, according to Pro Football Reference.