Steelers Insider Doesn't Think JuJu Smith-Schuster Will Be on Team Past Contract Season
By Mark Powell
The Steelers don't have any room for contract drama on this team -- they learned that the hard way with Antonio Brown.
Yet, with JuJu Smith-Schuster entering his contract season, uncertainty looms in regards to whether he'll be in Pittsburgh past 2020.
Steelers insider Ed Bouchette thinks not, and he's justified in that opinion.
.@EdBouchette on Juju: "He won't be [in Pittsburgh] in 2021."
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 23, 2020
Smith-Schuster's name was floated in trade rumors, with the San Francisco 49ers reportedly interested. JuJu would carry a steep asking price due to his age, productivity and affordable contract. Not to mention, the Steelers aren't in the business of taking weapons away from Ben Roethlisberger in his final seasons.
The 49ers desperately need a wideout since the departure of Emmanuel Sanders. If they'd be willing to deal a first-round pick, the Steelers would at least listen.
For as bumpy of a season as Juju Smith-Schuster had in 2019, do you really want to take him away from Ben Roethlisberger? @TimBenzPgh doesn’t https://t.co/aVxZaDRCQt
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) April 23, 2020
By most accounts, Smith-Schuster is a great person and pillar in the Pittsburgh community. He's due just over $1 million in 2020.
However, the Steelers' ability to churn out productive receivers in the middle rounds, plus the emergence of Diontae Johnson, could push Smith-Schuster out the door quicker than initially anticipated.