Steelers not expected to re-sign James Conner, JuJu Smith-Schuster

The Steelers will have to make some tough decisions this offseason with several marquee names heading to free agency. According to ESPN's Brooke Pryor, Pittsburgh is not expected to bring back running back James Conner or wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Conner and Smith-Schuster were both drafted by the Steelers in 2017 and proved to be exciting but ultimately inconsistent contributors to Pittsburgh's offense. Conner has been the Steelers' lead running back for the last several seasons, but he has struggled to stay healthy, missing games in each of his four seasons in the NFL. Pryor wrote that his lack of production over the last two years makes him expendable, and he will likely need to find a new home.

"Though a fan favorite for his ties to the community and battle with cancer, Conner is unlikely to be re-signed and the Steelers need a new No. 1 back," Pryor said.

As for Smith-Schuster, he will likely generate too much interest from other teams, and while he has indicated his interest in staying with the Steelers, it is unlikely they will be able to afford to keep him.