JuJu Smith-Schuster was hoping to cash in big during the 2021 offseason. Here’s why the Steelers receiver will press his luck again in 2022 with a new agent.
I’m not reporting anything new by saying that JuJu Smith-Schuster was looking to cash in big during the 2021 offseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers had very little money to work with, and he was almost guaranteed to sign with the highest bidder. However, Smith-Schuster’s market caved, and there weren’t any suitors out there who were willing to offer the money he wanted.
JuJu was said to have offers from both the Ravens and the Chiefs that would have been slightly more than what he’s making with the Steelers in 2021, but he decided to come back to Pittsburgh in an effort to increase his market value.
Now he will be doing so with a new agent, the Steelers receiver has signed with Wasserman agency. After seeing players like Kenny Golladay, Tyler Lockett, and Cory Davis rake in great money on their new deals, JuJu was sorely disappointed with his offer. Even players like Curtis Samuel and Nelson Agholor earned significantly more in terms of yearly value. Smith-Schuster will press his luck by testing the market again next offseason, and he’s hoping for a big payday.
How the Steelers receiver intends to cash in
Getting a new agent to represent him in the 2022 offseason was only the first step. JuJu Smith-Schuster also recently spoke to the media expressing that he wants to be an outside receiver – noting that it’s “as simple as that.”
While I believe that JuJu thinks he has much to offer the Steelers playing outside the hashes this year, we can’t be naive enough to believe that this is his driving reason to remove himself from the slot. It’s about the money. NFL teams view JuJu as what he has been: a slot receiver. This isn’t enough for them to throw a lucrative contract his way.
By increasing his arsenal and showing that he is capable of producing on the boundaries, Smith-Schuster hopes to improve his stock prior to the 2022 offseason. Despite his youth, not enough teams took an interest in JuJu last offseason, and he would like them to get in a bidding war.
I recently wrote about how moving Smith-Schuster from the slot would not be a wise choice by the Steelers. Though Ray-Ray McCloud may be a serviceable option on jet sweep plays or packages that involve pre-snap motion. However, Pittsburgh isn’t getting their best lineup by moving JuJu outside. Doing this would force them to take Chase Claypool or Diontae Johnson off the field, or force them to play in a role that doesn’t fit their skill set as well. By my assessment, JuJu Smith-Schuster is the best slot option this team has, but there are three receivers I like better on the outside.
Changning agents could prove to be a wise move for JuJu Smith-Schuster and he will have a chance to cash in big in 2022. While some believe it was all about loyalty to remain in Pittsburgh this season, we can’t be naive enough to believe that his recent comments to move to a more marketable position and his recent signing with a new agent are not connected. He wants to be paid, and his performance this year is riding on his next new deal.