3 free agents the Jets should avoid in the 2021 offseason

1. Free agents the Jets should avoid – WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

There has been a lot of buzz linking JuJu Smith-Schuster and the Jets in the past year. Pittsburgh was impressed when Smith-Schuster had a breakout year in 2018, catching 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns, but his production has dipped over the past two years.

Ben Roethlisberger’s injury hurt Smith-Schuster in 2019 but this season saw him catch 97 passes for just 831 yards, good for only 8.6 yards a reception. Smith-Schuster is only 24 so there is projectable upside here but he has also created controversy on the field by dancing on other team’s logos and talking trash about his opponents off of it.

There is a potential with the Jets if Sam Darnold stays since these two played together at USC, but Darnold’s future with the team is uncertain right now. Smith-Schuster is also most effective as a slot receiver, one area where the Jets are actually well covered with Jamison Crowder and Braxton Berrios, so he is not an ideal fit for an offense where the Jets need an outside receiver.

The Jets will definitely look to spend money on a no. 1 wideout in free agency but there are much better options for them to splurge on than Smith-Schuster. The lack of scheme fit and questionable dynamic he would add to the locker room would likely lead to a failed marriage so the Jets would be wise to look elsewhere.