JuJu Smith-Schuster’s free agency failed miserably.
He is expected to receive $ 12- $ 16 million per season on a multi-year deal. Instead, he returned to Pittsburgh on a $ 8 million one-year deal.
According to reports, Smith-Schuster was offered more money by Baltimore and Kansas City, and more years and more money by Philadelphia, but returned because he liked Pittsburgh.
But if Smith-Schuster loves Pittsburgh so much, he could sign a deal to stay months ago, saving the embarrassment of free agency. If he could have been paid more to play with superior teams and better backs in Baltimore and Kansas City, but he did not correct it, he is a fool. It could have been better launch pads for his next free agency.
Unless he’s Ben Roethlisberger’s no. 1 target in 2021. But Smith-Schuster was not last season, averaging 8.6 yards per catch. Therefore, he got what he got.
It is therefore hard to believe that Smith-Schuster ‘chose’ the Steelers for any reason other than that they made the best offer. It’s also hard to believe he stays with the Steelers longer than Roethlisberger.
Smith-Schuster expected big money and did not get it. That’s very sure.
It is also certain that the Steelers made a mistake in bringing him back.
The Steelers will likely conquer or trade Steven Nelson with the corner line. That news came about the same time that Smith-Schuster signed again. Smith-Schuster’s cap hit is greatly diluted by insignificant years, and its capitalization ($ 2.4 million) and Nelson ($ 8.25 million) do not match. But the timing of both movements makes it easy to think that they are at least slightly connected.
The Steelers lost four regular players on defense: the nose barrel Tyson Alualu, the randrusher Bud Dupree, the lock corner Mike Hilton and the inside lane Vince Williams. Nelson would make five.
There’s a lot to lose from the team’s power, though the main players are still there: inside linebacker Devin Bush, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, defensive ends Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt and edge rusher TJ Watt. That’s more than enough to offer a good unit.
But cornerback is now a concern. Cam Sutton becomes of the no. 4-corner to the start, and Justin Layne is going from barely playing to a regular. (These roles can be reversed.)
The offensive line, as currently put together, could possibly be one of the worst of the NFL. The most trusted member looks to be Kevin Dotson, a fourth-round pick selected from a Division I FBS school that has just completed his rookie season.
Smith-Schuster’s cap hit is, as mentioned earlier, diluted by insignificant years.
Invalid years can be applied to any contract. That money could similarly be spent on a greater need.
Dupree would always be impossible to maintain. But the Steelers would be better off with (choose one) Alualu, Hilton or Nelson instead of Smith-Schuster. The Steelers have three other very capable wide receivers in Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and James Washington. The tight end Eric Ebron is a de facto wide receiver, which is evident from the fact that he has no interest in blocking.
So what happened? It’s a horrible roster management. Why do the Steelers decide what to do? Why is it more important to keep a slightly above average artist in a deep position than to keep important defensive components?
There are two possibilities:
• Ownership and management are a struggle for Smith-Schuster’s charisma and popularity, and his appeal to the TikTok generation.
• GM Ben got his point.
Here is betting on the latter. Even as a crippled duck, Roethlisberger seems to retain great influence.
What’s next? Maybe the buddy Alejandro Villanueva will show up again. (This is a military term.) Maybe Roethlisberger will get out of the gun every time. He can lead the league again in pass attempts. Play action will be completely cleared from the playbook.
What happened to the Steelers? They used to work with such cold and calculating logic.
Of course, they also won playoffs. Now, they are the team that dances.
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Mark Madden Column | Sport | Steelers / NFL