Steelers on the hot seat this season? JuJu Smith-Schuster
The Oxford Dictionary describes “hot seat” as the following: the position of a person who carries full responsibility for something, including facing criticism or being answerable for decisions or actions. In this ongoing series our contributors will select a current member of the Steelers organization and ask the simple question: are they on the hot seat in 2020?
JuJu Smith-Schuster is another in a short list of Steelers finding themselves on the hot seat this season even if they technically may not be.
The reason is two-fold.
First, “diva” wide receivers have given others a bad rap. If anyone pays attention to Pittsburgh radio personality Mark Madden, they’ll follow that JuJu is an immature “kid” who does nothing but play video games and ignores honing his football craft.
None could be further from the truth.
The reality of Madden’s comments is a generation gap where players are more prone to be on social media now than ever. It’s also a guilty by association game where JuJu didn’t have the most reputable of predecessors, including Santonio Holmes getting traded following off-field conduct issues, Mike Wallace holding out during training camp (and then leaving) for more money, or Antonio Brown going MIA and demanding a trade.
JuJu has been nothing but a model citizen since the day he arrived in Pittsburgh: without a driver’s license too! Fans gravitated to him quickly and his impact was felt as swiftly. He’s (still) only 23-years-old, yet has a Pro Bowl nod and a team MVP award (2018) to his credit.
That doesn’t sound like a player who doesn’t take the game seriously, but opponents such as Madden don’t understand football players get days off too (and are permitted to speak about it publicly).
Unfortunately it’s JuJu’s good nature that can also make him an easy target for those who associate any over-the-top antics with the AB’s, TO’s, and other “diva” receivers who have come and gone throughout the league. With a dip in production last year, the assumption is he’s not as good as many thought, but that’s also poorly constructed argument when looking at the inconsistency of quarterbacking that plagued last year’s Steelers offense, as well as injuries to Smith-Schuster.
That doesn’t make his seat any less warm for those critics as JuJu enters the final season of his rookie deal, looking to earn a new contract in 2021. With so much up in the air when it comes to COVID-19 and salary cap implications, the Steelers (who were already up against the cap heading into this year’s offseason) aren’t making many long-term decisions with any players, unlike what we may usually see during training camp and the preseason when deals are typically done by the team.
The Steelers also have other players from the same 2017 draft class to consider when talking contracts. While T.J. Watt will likely receive a fifth-year option as a first round pick, he may break the bank with a record deal – especially if Watt duplicates or exceeds his breakout 2019 year where he was a runner-up for league Defensive MVP.
Also in JuJu’s group are RB James Conner and CB Cameron Sutton. Conner’s inability to stay healthy has steered the Steelers into drafting other running backs in each of the last three seasons, making Conner appear expendable depending on the type of season he may have in 2020.
Sutton, on the other hand, has hardly played but is praised for being able to fit into any of the positions in the Steelers secondary. Versatility is key, as he can do the job of several players and open up other spots on the depth chart. There’s also the notion that if Mike Hilton isn’t re-signed or Joe Haden starts looking to retirement, Sutton could fill one of those roles, at least on an interim basis (should he not work out).
While Sutton shouldn’t command a top salary based on little playing time, the Steelers are still stretched thin at being able to offer him, or others named here, a bump in pay – likely what any player trying to sign their first post-draft contract wants.
It’s hard to imagine a new deal for JuJu coming cheaply, given his age and past production. His contract could affect the team’s ability to bring back other core players, making the situation “hot” to justify a new deal for JuJu.
And of course there’s rookie Chase Claypool, the Steelers’ top pick from this year’s NFL Draft. Claypool is a larger body receiver taken in the second round: just like JuJu. That could have the veteran looking over his shoulder at his potential replacement.
Those elements combine for a situation to monitor as the season progresses and to truly gauge if Smith-Schuster is on the hot seat.
