The Steelers Trading JuJu Smith-Schuster to Recoup First-Round Draft Pick is Something the Team Should Consider

The Pittsburgh Steelers own just two picks in the first 120 selections of the 2020 NFL Draft, and they will likely need to move some big pieces around if they want to recoup that treasured first-rounder.

The player most likely to get such a haul back in a trade, unfortunately, is JuJu Smith-Schuster, a tremendous slot receiver coming off of an awful 2019 season.

JuJu is coming off a year in which he managed just 42 catches and 552 yards. While the sharp decline is due to in part Ben Roethlisberger's injury, don't forget JuJu didn't have Antonio Brown to attract the defense's best corner last season. Is JuJu really WR1 material after last year?

What makes the JuJu conundrum even more difficult is the fact that he's a free agent after this season. Instead of anchoring the team to him financially with a big new contract, Pittsburgh could move off of him for a high draft pick if they can convince a wide receiver-needy team to take the deal.

The Steelers have proven they are one of the best teams in football at drafting and developing wide receivers, so they can probably find a replacement rather quickly.

Smith-Schuster is beloved by the fans in Pittsburgh, but the Steelers need to nail this draft by picking stars in a few key areas, like running back and defensive line. Trading JuJu could get them a first-round pick and then some while freeing them of the obligation to give him a massive contract next offseason.