Pittsburgh Steelers: Predictions for key contracts that expire in 2021

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR

There are several truths Steelers fans know about the team’s draft habits. The first is that there’s always a high chance the first-round pick will be a linebacker and the second is that the team drafts wide receivers well, even when they don’t need to.

The Steelers made a great decision when they selected Smith-Schuster with the 62nd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The USC product was the top receiver on some analysts’ boards heading into the 2016 college football season, but his stock fell during the year.

With Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster thrived alongside Antonio Brown, and he became the youngest wide receiver to reach 2,500 receiving yards in history. However, without a good quarterback and Brown, Smith-Schuster struggled in 2019. Now, people are questioning whether he can be a true number one receiver.

Smith-Schuster leads an inexperienced receiving corps that features Diontae Johnson and James Washington. That trio is Pittsburgh’s future at the receiving position and perhaps even the future of the offense in general.

For that reason, it looks like the Steelers will resign Smith-Schuster when his rookie contract expires, but the team will not overpay for his services. The Steelers have cut ties with talented receivers in the past (ex. Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace, etc.), and the team always bounces back. 2020 will determine Smith-Schuster’s payday and whether the Steelers can afford him.

Predicted action – extended