NFL Rumors: 3 teams eyeing Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
The hottest wide receiver name in free agency right now is Pittsburgh Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster.
It looks like the Steelers may be getting into a bidding war with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Update: #Steelers, #Chiefs and #Eagles interested in WR Juju Smith Schuster, per @JFowlerESPN
It looked for awhile that the wide receiver was ready to walk away from the Steelers and even mentioned the Dallas Cowboys as a team he may be interested in playing for after doing commercials with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott earlier this year.
He missed most of the 2021 season with the Steelers with a shoulder injury, but seems to be back on track for 2022, which is why several NFL teams are flocking around him, despite the fact that, before this season, his stats have dropped since the 2018 season.
Smith-Schuster's biggest season came in his second year as a starter in 2018 when he had over 1,400 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns, but since then he hasn't been able to duplicate that season.
He hasn't had a thousand yard season since; however, the 25-year-old is still in his prime and, with the right quarterback, can make a huge bounce back this coming season.
But which team will he choose in case he doesn't re-sign with the Steelers?
Why JuJu Smith-Schuster will choose another team and not the Steelers
The Steelers might be in the running for the wide receiver, but it might take more than money to bring him back.
The biggest thing the Steelers have going against them is that they don't have a quarterback. Ben Rothlisberger has retired, and the Steelers are now in the market for a quarterback. Who they decide to settle on may be what determines if Smith-Schuster returns to the club.
He also didn't seem to be excited about returning to the team, regardless of who the starting quarterback is, but that may change if they can land Deshan Watson.
That wouldn't be a problem for the Chiefs. They have a team primed to win another Super Bowl behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Smith-Schuster would be the ideal fit to help wide receiver Tyreek Hill on the other side of the field and could take the pressure off, not only Hill, but tight end Travis Kelce.
I will say signing Ju Ju Smith-Schuster would be a great idea as well bc I think he would return back to his old self when Pittsburgh had Antonio Brown. Ju Ju would be the 3rd option behind Kelce and Hill. He would thrive in that role. #ChiefsKingdom
Same with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have a hot, young quarterback in Jalen Hurts and have wide receiver DeVonta Smith as one of the wideouts on the other side of the field, so Smith-Schuster wouldn't have to carry the load by himself.
Not to mention the fact that the Cowboys may also be interested because they may be looking to replace Amari Cooper soon. The wide receiver has plenty of options, which should worry the Steelers, especially if they don't move quickly.