JuJu Smith-Schuster recently voiced to the media that he wants to be an outside receiver in 2021. Here’s why the Steelers should politely decline.
Despite still being just 24 years old entering his fifth NFL season, JuJu Smith-Schuster has been one of the most reliable players on Pittsburgh’s offense since joining the team as a second-round pick in 2021. After his rookie contract had expired, the young Steelers wide receiver had the opportunity to test the free-agent market and flirted with the idea of signing with Baltimore or Kansas City before ultimately rejoining the team on a one-year deal.
With Antonio Brown across from him in 2017 and 2018, JuJu’s career was off to a lightning-fast start, as he even outpaced the great Randy Moss as the youngest receiver to ever record 2,500 yards. However, when Brown forced his way out of Pittsburgh, JuJu hasn’t been the same player of the past two seasons.
Now entering year five, Smith-Schuster had a chance to voice his potential role to the media following OTAs. To put it simply, he wants to play on the outside:
JuJu Smith-Schuster on his biggest goal for this season “Playing outside, as simple as that” #Steelers
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) June 9, 2021
It’s not hard to imagine why Smith-Schuster would switch from the slot to a full-time outside receiver. He’s a free agent again after the 2021 season and is no doubt looking to show other teams what he can do from outside the hashes. However, the Steelers should not grant him this request.
Steelers must keep JuJu Smith-Schuster in the slot in 2021
Despite his request to move to the outside, the Pittsburgh Steelers really need to do what’s best for the team, and that’s keeping him in the slot. There are several reasons why this is the easy choice.
For starters, JuJu has shown us that this is where he wins best. This is not a slight against him, by any means, as there are some great NFL receivers who are just better over the middle of the field in the short and intermediate game. Players like Chris Godwin and Keenan Allen come to mind: both great receivers who thrive in this area of the field.
After a four-year sample size, it’s not hard to tell where JuJu’s strengths and weaknesses lie. He has a powerful frame to make contested catches over the middle of the field, and he’s excellent and moving and breaking tackles after the catch – always fighting for the sticks. While he’s adequate on the outside, Smith-Schuster primarily plays the game at one speed and doesn’t have the extra gear to gain separation down the field. He has been much better playing in the slot for the Steelers, and that shouldn’t change in year five.
In addition, the Steelers already have a trio of quality young receivers who are best at winning outside the hashes. Diontae Johnson is ideal as the “X” receiver thanks to his ability to effortlessly beat the press and create separation out of his breaks. Likewise, James Washington is a long-strider with some build-up speed who can track the ball very well down the field.
While Chase Claypool manned the slot often at Notre Dame and can do a little bit of everything for the Steelers, his best trait is winning down the field on the sidelines. This is a valuable trait to have and Pittsburgh should continue to use him as a deep threat.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is a quality football player and a terrific former second-round pick. Despite his contributions to the team over the past four years, the Steelers would be wise to decline his request to move him to the outside. While he will get some snaps outside the hashes in 12 personnel, it just makes too much sense to leave him in the role that he was made for in 2021.