The NFL could look much different during the 2021 campaign, with plenty of star players already changing teams and many more expected like wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Along with several talented wide receivers coming out of the 2021 NFL Draft, a few potential game-changers will also be available. Smith-Schuster more or less admitted that his time with the Steelers is over by voting on a poll about his future.
Is the @TeamJuJu era over in Pittsburgh? 🤔
(via @Kaitlin_OToole) pic.twitter.com/YozPkWoXkf
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 11, 2021
With the USC product publicly telling the rest of the league that he’s open for business, the Las Vegas Raiders could be one of many teams to show interest in the star wide receiver. The Raiders have some young talent at receiver but could use a threat downfield like Smith-Schuster.
The 24-year-old is coming off another solid season with the Steelers, in which he hauled in a career-high nine touchdowns to go along with 831 yards on 97 receptions. He played in all 16 games and had an impressive playoff performance against the Cleveland Browns with 13 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown.
Although the Raiders brass will focus on upgrading the defense during this NFL offseason, the team will almost certainly do its due diligence in looking for upgrades on the offensive side of the football as well.
Las Vegas has already cut ties with Tyrell Williams, and it remains uncertain whether Nelson Algholor is in the team’s plans moving forward despite an impressive first season in silver and black. Henry Ruggs III struggled in his rookie campaign but showed flashes of potential to be a star wideout.
The addition of Smith-Schuster would be a step in the right direction for the Raiders as long as they don’t have to break the bank and sacrifice a substantial portion of their cap space which would be better suited to upgrade the defense.
