Which WRs to invest

is ju-ju's rookie contract ending this season? do we throw big money at Ju-Ju? Washington, Johnson, and Claypool have some time. ju-ju probably want a big 4-5yrs contract at $15-20min/yr? do we sign ju-ju to franchise contract? Can we afford that and try to sign another one/two in 3-4yrs? should be interesting.

 

In a word

No

 

I addressed this before the season started in another thread...….. Basically, I stated that we would probably attempt to keep juju, but in the long run, sustaining such a talented group long term in unrealistic...… I really believe juju will be kept, but James Washington would be the one to go for greener pastures

 

Id be astonished if they keep Juju, purely for cap reasons.

Bud, Hilton, Conner, Villanueva and others are all in contract years too. Next offseason is going to be wild with players coming and going.

In Jujus case they have enough cover with Washington, Claypool and Johnson and they’ll probably draft another mid round guy. He is going to want probably $15m. As much as I love the guy that’s too much when you have to pay TJ and try to keep a defence together.

 

The one thing the Steelers have in their favor with signing JUJU is the fact that he has built a Pitt brand on his own. He is loved in Pitt, but more importantly he saw what life without Ben was like. He has said he wants to stay. Could he follow the money...without a doubt. But he has never shown he is a #1 guy to get #1 money. He will want to go where he has a top QB... which are few and far between.

If lets say the Seahawks or Chiefs made him an offer...I could see him leaving....but would they make him an offer with what they already have in the stable.

After that the teams that might pay him the most money probably dont have THE MAN at QB.

I agree Washington the odd man out, but that could also be why he stays.....Want to get paid a little more to play for the Jets or stay where you are and compete for another year or two.

HACK

 

Tough call with DJ, Chase and ray ray. Washington for one more but DJ has to show he can stay healthy. Speed and quickness is rising to the top. We have an offensive line to worry about as well feiler, AV, pouncey and DD eventually. OLB, ILB, TE(McDonald), RB not a big concern, an may be depending on what Ben decides, corners, alualu, plenty of positions need addressing.

 

I think they try to keep Dupree because they franchised him. AV might hang it up. I think Conner only stays on a Steeler friendly contract.

Agree with SteelersFanlrl, cap restrictions will hurt JuJu's chances to remain a Steeler. Ben probably has maybe a year or two left after this season. JuJu could go out west possibly SF, Cardinals. Packers, Lions, Vikings, Texans, Eagles, Cheats all have younger decent QBs that could use JuJu.

 

I think you are a little high for any WR next year.

Covid is going to reset the market for all players next year.

 

Las Vegas Raiders need a WR like Juju, he would be perfect in that Derek Carr led YAC offence along with Waller, and Ruggs is now emerging as well. They have the OLine to make it all work. I could see him in that uniform.

It will be a shame to see some of these guys leave. Hopefully they make good use of the compensatory picks that follow.

 

JuJu has been average at best since AB left. Makes me think he was more a product of a good situation with teams keying AB than anything else. I like JuJu but no way I give him decent money unless he really comes on end of the year.

 

Too bad we don't have a crystal ball and could package the right guy for some secondary help

 

Is James Washington dropping in the pecking order of the wrs? How will it effect juju next season will remain to be seen. DJs health may also be a factor. Will ray rays usage increase? Will Dion Cain come into the fold next year if juju is lost? Does that make JW the old man of the receiving corps at that point?

 

Hey mac.

You posted too many outcomes to think about. My head is spinning (smile). However, this is a good thing as is said in these situations. As I have stated for months now, we have so much talent on the Offense. Specifically the WRs, I really have not given much thought about Cain and McCloud up to this point. Obviously Management has (as they should) as well as you from a future roster standpoint. Good stuff. Cain and McCloud are playing in spots which just goes to my point of how many weapons we have. They seem to have promise.

One thing I like up to this point is that there does not seem to be any selfishness exhibited (AB) on the Offense. With this much talent it is difficult to get the ball into everyone's hands each week. I had to ask was JuJu playing last week for I did not see much of him. Nonetheless, it seems that this is a very selfless group which is what we need in part for team chemistry

Steelers' "Catchers" (WRs & TEs):

• JuJu
• Johnson
• Washington
• Claypool
• Ebron: He looks and functions like a WR IMO.
• McDonald: I want to see him more involved and PUNISHING people, smile.
• Cain
• McCloud

I know reality says we cannot keep them all. It is critical to at least maintain three out of the top four of the list above regarding WR.



STEELWINDS The East Side Kid

 

With Cain remaining on the ps along with darboah, the future still keeps us stacked at the position. McDonald and juju would need contracts but I don't see a need for a draft pick on this side of the ball and that position. I like Washington but he just seems to keep getting passed up by younger talent. Maybe a trade in his future?

 

This.



DJs performance will affect if JuJu stays. Chase is not going anywhere for the foreseeable future. James Washington is also someone I doubt is going anywhere either.



James is not the deep threat Tomlin has hoped for. That said, he is a very dependable, sure handed Wideout. Even those types of Receivers are difficult to find in the draft.

 

Agreed. You don't win the Biletnikoff if you aren't capable. JW is a tough, dependable, hard-working receiver. DJ might be more explosive, but JW is more productive. He's consistently better at his position and we need to keep him over DJ if it comes to that.

 

JW averaged almost 17 yards per catch, with Duck/Mason at QB in 2019.

 

Juju isn't going to get big money. While talented, he hasn't shown an ability to be the top guy. While he may end up getting more than we would offer, it won't be #1 money unless he has a really big year this year

 

• Juju should be signed long term
• Claypool is on trajectory to be the #1 WR and will eventually be paid big time in his 2nd contract
• At this point, I'd pick Washington over DJ... because of durability

 

Average for JuJU is really hard to define when he only had Ben for a game last year. You can say stars emerge during crisis, but beyond being hurt there was nothing at QB getting him the ball. I do not see him as a true nr 1, but his value is certainly there. he has thrown some vicious blocks, and as the O gets more defined (and more D attention is out on Clay), JuJu can (and likely will) become that 1B/2 that he was with AB.

 

I hope we somehow keep Juju. If he left in FA, what (draft) compensation level might we get?

 

He did.


That said, with Chase now in the fold, no need for him to do so. Heck, even if he is called upon for that task, that would be a waste in my opinion. Chase Claypool has a far greater ceiling for deep threat duties than James does.

 

Chase will eventually draw more attention, especially with Diontae out, JuJu and JW will have to step up.