The Steelers are nonetheless in want of a No. 2 large receiver since buying and selling Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in March.
Pittsburgh has since added a number of new veterans to the room, together with Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins and Scotty Miller, however none actually transfer the needle.
Might the Steelers’ reply be reuniting with one among their former draft picks?
The Boston Sports activities Journal’s Greg Bedard would not be shocked if the Patriots quickly parted methods with large receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh’s second-round choose in 2017.
“To me, if you draft Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, together with Pop Douglas and also you signed Okay.J. Osborn, I do not actually see a match for JuJu right here,” Bedard stated, by way of Patriots Wire. “JuJu Smith-Schuster, to me, shouldn’t be a match right here anymore. I’d be shocked if he is right here all that for much longer.”
Smith-Schuster signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract with New England final offseason, however he disenchanted with simply 29 catches for 260 yards and a landing whereas battling accidents in 2023.
The 27-year-old’s accidents alone could deter the Steelers from entertaining a reunion. If not, nonetheless, Pittsburgh would wish to find out whether or not he could be any higher than what it at the moment has on the roster, in addition to reexamine his maturity.
The Steelers felt it was time to maneuver on from Smith-Schuster following the 2021 season after the previous USC receiver turned a distraction together with his exercise on social media. Including him again right into a locker room that looks like it is on course might be a mistake.
Third-year large receiver Calvin Austin III did not play with Smith-Schuster in Pittsburgh, however revealed this week that he has felt a “tradition and power shift” within the locker room this offseason.
“With Russ (Wilson) as a frontrunner, he is going to verify we’re all on the identical web page,” Austin stated. “Coach (Arthur) Smith is a good communicator, so everyone knows what our job is. So you’ll be able to undoubtedly really feel the tradition and the power behind it.”
Nonetheless, there is not any arguing in opposition to Smith-Schuster’s manufacturing with the Steelers. From 2017-21, the wideout registered 323 catches for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Plus, normal supervisor Omar Khan has proved that you could by no means rule out any situation with the franchise.
