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.
Chase Claypool could be an upgrade in the slot
This is not just recency bias for Chase Claypool after watching the rookie dominate at times in his first season, but I truly do believe that Claypool will be an upgrade in the slot (if the Steelers choose to go that route).
Obviously, there are other things that Pittsburgh could decide to do. They could look to kick James Washington inside and they will likely draft a receiver within the first four rounds this year to help fill the void. However, I believe a large portion of JuJu’s old role will go to Claypool, and what reason do we have to believe that he will be less effective than what Smith-Schuster was in the slot.
If you recall, many thought Claypool would be a slot receiver of a ‘move’ tight end coming out of Notre Dame last year because his film was so good in this area. He’s not lacking any physicality over the middle that JuJu possesses, but Chase is a noticeable better athlete on the field. Instead of catching every drag or slant with a defender in his hip pocket, Claypool could actually run away from people and I’d be shocked if he was less efficient than Smith Schuster was last season.
James Washington is better than people think
Seeing comments from writers and analysts around the league, people actually think there is a massive talent gap from JuJu to James Washington, but where on earth is this coming from? While Smith-Schuster owns the spotlight, it was Washington who proved to be Pittsburgh’s most efficient receiver in 2019 with poor quarterback play – and he was doing it in a more difficult role on the outside.
It’s important to remember that these guys were both second-round picks a few years back and that they share skill sets that are quite similar. Washington is a bit more of a long strider with build up speed while JuJu has a little more twitch to his game, but both players are incredibly physical at the catch point and with the ball in their hands.
Don’t underestimate how important opportunity is in the NFL, and so far, JuJu has had much more of it. But something tells me that Washington could be due for a breakout season. The former Oklahoma State product came up huge for the Steelers in big moments last year and if more work is added to his plate, I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t help fill the void that will be left by JuJu’s departure.
The Steelers are the best in the league at drafting and replacing the position
At the end of the day, the Steelers just know what they are doing at the wide receiver position. Over the past twenty years, we have seen very good receivers come and go. Pittsburgh allowed players like Plaxico Burress, Antwan Randel El, Mike Wallace, and Emmanuel Sanders to walk away from the organization while Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Santonio Holmes were all traded for pennies. Yet, the Steelers found a way to replace them each and every time.
While there are the occasional draft busts like Sammie Coates and Limas Sweed, Pittsburgh is really good at evaluating, drafting, and developing talent at the wide receiver position. Diontae Johnson wasn’t a player that was on the national football media’s radar. Though he has plenty of issues he still needs to work through, he could develop into a quality football player and he already possesses the ability to create separation with ease.
Claypool was a guy that many thought was just a high riser because of his outstanding numbers at the NFL Combine last year, but it turns out he’s actually a quality wide receiver with big upside. No matter who the Steelers end up going with to help replace Smith-Schuster this April, we should have a great deal of confidence in their ability to fill the void at receiver.
Like Emmanuel Sanders, JuJu Smith-Schuster could very well go on to have a great career after he leaves the Steelers, but Pittsburgh fans shouldn’t be worried. There are more than enough reasons to believe that losing JuJu won’t be a big deal for this franchise.