Jaguars have better options than WR JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a comfortable position to make a couple of splash signings in free agency and they should use some of their abundant cap space to bolster their wide receiver corps. While Amari Cooper could be the best option available, the Jags were recently linked to JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Marc Sessler of NFL Media recently matched each AFC team with a pending free agent and he sees Smith-Schuster as a fit for the Jaguars. Sessler believes the former USC Trojan could give the Jaguars’ offense a boost despite the fact that tight end Zach Ertz could be a stronger candidate to land in Jacksonville.

"Doug Pederson’s offense demands more support around second-year arm Trevor Lawrence. Smith-Schuster is coming off an injury-slammed 2021 but remains a player who can bolster an air game. Dot-connecting suggests free-agent tight end and Pederson disciple Zach Ertz is a candidate to land in Jacksonville, too, but JuJu would serve as an experienced wideout to lift the club’s young quarterback."

A second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, Smith-Schuster had a pretty good rookie campaign, hauling in 58 receptions for 917 yards with seven touchdowns He looked like he was on his way to NFL super stardom after catching 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018. In fact, you could argue that his presence made former All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown expendable.

Neverthless, Smith-Schuster’s production took a hit after the Steelers traded Brown to Las Vegas Raiders in 2019. That year, he amassed 42 catches for 552 yards and three touchdowns. Things didn’t get any better the following seasona and even though he hauled in 97 receptions, he averaged a paltry 8.6 yards per catch. He returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal in 2021 but just posted 15 catches. You could make the case that an aging Ben Roethlisberger held the Steelers offense back but Smith-Schuster should carry some of the blame for his lack of production too.

The Jaguars can sign one of the top receivers in free agency.

JuJu Smith-Schuster landed at 42 in Pro Football Focus’ top 200 list of free agents and he’s expected to get a one-year deal worth $8 million this offseason. While that’s a rather affordable amount and can easily fit in the Jaguars’ offseason budget, there will be better and more productive receivers in the open market.

Sure, Smith-Schuster caught 111 receptions back in 2018 but his dip in production over the last two seasons should be a cause for concern. Maybe he can rebound and get back on track with better quarterback play but there will be other wide receivers without question marks in free agency. Mike Williams is currently the top option but Amari Cooper could be released soon and if he is, the Jags should place a bid for his services.

The one scenario where it makes sense to sign Smith-Schuster is if the Jaguars make a heavy investment at other positions. Let’s say they sign left tackle Terron Armstead and outside linebacker Chandler Jones but they still want to add a wide receiver in free agency, Smith-Schuster would then make sense at $8 million per year.

The Jaguars can’t afford to sit on their surplus of cap space and need to get many playmakers as possible. And while there could be better options than Smith-Schuster in the open market, the team’s brass shouldn’t rule him out just yet.