It’s a sort of natural way of thinking here in Pittsburgh, that wherever an ex-Steeler, Penguin, or Pirate are released/have left a new team, we talk about a potential reunion.

For many, I know that those discussions have become a nuisance, and so when I suggest that there’s a real potential for the Steelers to bring in an old friend by the name of JuJu Smith-Schuster, a ton of eyes are going to roll.

But there are real reasons to believe that this is a possibility. Not just because there are rumors that the Steelers are interested, but because the Steelers have already made a bit of a habit bringing former players back.

Both Cam Sutton (2017-2022) and Tyler Matakevich (2016-2019) have returned to Pittsburgh in free agency this offseason, evident that perhaps general manager Omar Khan is willing to circle back on guys.

Smith-Schuster was a Steeler from his draft year in 2017 until 2021, playing in 63 total games and earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2018 after a season that saw him set a career high 1,426 receiving yards.

He re-signed with the Steelers on a one year deal after his rookie contract expired, partially to be a part of Ben Roethlisberger‘s farewell season, but his 2021 campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury. He battled back to play in Pittsburgh’s Wild Card matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, a game the Steelers got their doors blown off in.

Here’s a recap of his year by year stats while he was in Pittsburgh:

2017: 14 games, 58 receptions, 917 yards, 7 touchdowns

2018: 16 games, 111 receptions, 1,426 yards, 7 touchdowns

2019: 12 games, 42 receptions, 552 yards, 3 touchdowns

2020: 16 games, 97 receptions, 831 yards, 9 touchdowns

2021: 5 games, 15 receptions, 129 yards, 0 touchdowns

As a free agent in 2022, he left to sign a one year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he put together his second highest receiving yards total of 933 en route to a Super Bowl win with the Chiefs.

That helped net Smith-Schuster a massive contract from the Patriots, one that paid him $25 million over three years. However, he was released by New England last week, after just one season with the team. He appeared in 11 games last season, starting 7, catching only 29 passes for 260 yards, and 1 touchdown.

The Steelers actually saw Smith-Schuster on the other side of the field last season, during their loss to New England. The receiver had a season high 90 yards on 4 catches in what would end up being his last game of the season.

Last season was brutal for the 27-year old, but his larger body of work is one of a very good wide receiver. So should the Steelers take a flyer on him?

It wouldn’t be much money to bring him back to the Steel City. The Patriots are still on the hook for $7 million dollars for Smith-Schuster for this season, meaning that the Steelers could (and should) be able to sign him on a league minimum deal.

He has a much better track record of established success than a lot of other options the Steelers currently have. Aside from George Pickens, the Steelers wide receiver core is filled with rookies or players yet to prove themselves in the NFL.

I do think Van Jefferson will have a better year than people think, and it’s possible that a rookie like Roman Wilson or second-year player like Calvin Austin has a breakthrough-type season, but that is a lot of hoping from guys who have only ever showed the potential so far, not the follow through.

And it doesn’t really appear to be changing. The Brandon Aiyuk saga has been sickening for how many twists and turns it has, but with each passing day it looks less and less likely that the Steelers are going to be his team in 2024.

Obviously, Smith-Schuster is no Aiyuk, and given how his last season went, he shouldn’t really even be considered the consolation prize either. But he is an option that the Steelers could benefit from trying out.

If this is the receiver core the Steelers are going to have, you have to ask yourself: is he better than Dez Fitzpatrick? Is he better than Scotty Miller? Is he better than Quez Watkins?

The safest one to yes say to is probably Fitzpatrick.

It’s important to note that part of the reason Smith-Schuster’s numbers were so low last season was New England’s quarterback situation. JuJu was catching passes from a tandem of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. No disrespect to those gentlemen, but that’s not really a recipe for success.

It was a bad team in New England last year (one that the Steelers lost to, by the way). There’s a reason why their top receiver only had 561 yards, and no one eclipsed the 420 mark.

Sure, Pittsburgh might not have the best quarterback situation in the league, but it is definitely more favorable than a Jones/Zappe concoction.

With Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields slinging the ball JuJu’s way, there’s a decent chance the Long Beach native can really have a rebound season.

He also is a solid blocking wide receiver, which works really well in an Arthur Smith-style offense.

I know that a sizable amount of this fan base wasn’t happy with his online antics, his TikTok dances, and all of the other stuff. And it did eventually blow up in his face.

But I do not believe that will be a problem for him going forward. He’s older now and (hopefully) a lot more mature. Plenty of people in their early 20s are incredibly childish online, they just don’t have the entire football world to see it.

The question isn’t about whether or not it would be a risk, because there isn’t one. There never is for a guy who you sign on a league minimum deal who you could cut right away.

The question is if it’s worth it. His knee issues are of major concern, and the stench of his last year with the Patriots might follow him around.

But if the Steelers, and Omar Khan, believe that there is still a talented football player in there somewhere, why not take a flyer and just see what happens?

(Featured photo by Gene J. Puskar/AP)