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JuJu Smith-Schuster will become an unrestricted free agent on March 17 and it's unlikely that he'll re-sign with the Steelers, as they're cash-strapped when it comes to salary cap space. As of right now, the Steelers have around $5 million in cap space and Smith-Schuster should command around $16 million per year in free agency.
PointsBet Sportsbook has the Raiders as the favorites at +130. Followed by Las Vegas are the Jets (+250), Colts (+500), Bears (+650), Dolphins +750), Packers (+800), Ravens (+850) and Giants (+900).
Former Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor can see Smith-Schuster landing in Chicago and be the sidekick to Allen Robinson as a No. 2.
"I can see JuJu in Chicago," Taylor said on the Bleav Podcast Network where he does a Steelers podcast with Mark Bergin. "I know they just tagged Allen Robinson in Chicago. I can see JuJu pairing up in the cold weather because he's cool and used to it. I can see him pairing up with Allen Robinson."
Both Taylor and Bergin believe the Steelers don't have the cap space to bring Smith-Schuster back, and Taylor doesn't expect Pittsburgh to offer him much.
"It depends on my thoughts on what JuJu asks for as far as being a Pittsburgh Steeler, and I think they're gonna offer him something really low, very disrespectful," Taylor said. "So, he's gonna be like, you know what, man, I don't got time to be playing with y'all. And I think somebody (will) offer JuJu something real nice. JuJu is a good complementary receiver. He's a two. He's a strong two, a for sure three. The one is kind of hard. It's kind of hard being a one. And I think he saw that after Antonio Brown had left, you know what I'm saying? So, I don't think he's going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler."
Taylor also said the Steelers are one of the best in the league at drafting wide receivers and they've replaced top-flight receivers before like Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace, Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El. It should be no different with Smith-Schuster.
Bergin sees the Jaguars, Washington and Colts as other potential teams that Smith-Schuster could sign with. Taylor's assessment on Smith-Schuster pairing with Robinson in Chicago makes sense, as he's at his best in a No. 2 role. I'm just not sure who will deliver him the football in Chicago, as they are in need of a quarterback after the Mitchell Tribusky pick ended up being a disaster. Arizona also would make sense for Smith-Schuster, as a duo of DeAndre Hopkins and him would be a lethal pairing.
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