Former Steelers' Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster Given Critical Reviews, Labeled As Overrated AFC East Players

There was a time when people would have argued that JuJu Smith-Schuster would retire with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but those days are long gone. Smith-Schuster had a rollercoaster of a ride in Pittsburgh. It was a slight head-scratcher when the Steelers opted for a wideout with the 62nd pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. With Antonio Brown as the star of the show and Martavis Bryant producing solid numbers, the Steelers didn't need much help offensively.

It didn't take long for Smith-Schuster to find himself in a prominent role in an already impressive offensive unit. His reputation went from the 20-year-old with the stolen bike to surpassing Bryant on the depth chart. From there, he took off and quickly became one of Ben Roethlisberger's favorite targets. In his first two seasons, he recorded 917 and 1,426 yards with seven touchdowns within both years. His productivity earned him team MVP in 2018, but unfortunately the injury bug bit hard in 2019 and 2021. Between that and his lack of WR1-caliber production in 2020, his time in Pittsburgh came to a close.

Smith-Schuster went on to sign a one-year deal with a powerhouse in the Kansas City Chiefs. With Tyreek Hill off to the Miami Dolphins and Travis Kelce being Patrick Mahomes' go-to guy, this was a unique opportunity for Smith-Schuster to prove himself as WR1 without too much pressure. The receiver recorded 933 yards with three touchdowns and won a Super Bowl, which was enough to impress the New England Patriots. Heading into his seventh NFL season, Smith-Schuster has signed a three-year $33 million contract with the Patriots. 

Not Everyone Has Good Things To Say About The Former Steelers Receiver

The veteran receiver's career has been full of conflicting reviews. From the biggest team player to a diva, from the light-hearted jokester to the mean-spirited Tik Tok star, people always have something to say about Smith-Schuster. This time, he's being labeled as one of the most overrated AFC East players by fantasypros.com. 

"JuJu Smith-Schuster has been consistently overrated since his third season, despite his initial hype and a WR1 overall finish in 2019. Unfortunately, he has failed to live up to expectations as a true No. 1 wide receiver, and even as the top projected pass-catcher for the New England Patriots, that trend is unlikely to change." 

This point is essentially what made the decision easy for the Steelers to let him walk. While Smith-Schuster was a fan favorite, he wasn't consistently producing WR1 numbers. That being said, he's had the crutch of blaming a declining Roethlisberger, injuries and Kelce for being the #1 target in Kansas City. In New England, expectations will be high. 

December 7, 2023, will be the first time that Smith-Schuster faces the Steelers since his departure. He will likely be matched up against a newcomer, either Joey Porter Jr. or Patrick Peterson. The Steelers last faced the Patriots in September in a Week 2 contest. They lost in a 17-14 heartbreaker, which inevitably came back to bite them come playoffs. It's worth noting that the 2022 Steelers are an entirely different team than the 2023 Steelers. With Kenny Pickett as the new starting quarterback, an abundance of new talent, and TJ Watt healthy, the game should look significantly different this time around. 

As for Smith-Schuster, the Yinzer in me will always root for his success. That being said, it's hard to be able to label him true WR1 talent thus far in his career. What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is Smith-Schuster overrated or is his breakout season loading?