Round 2, pick 62: Steelers select JuJu Smith-Schuster

I love the pick. The past two seasons have been disappointing watching the #2s either fail or underperform. Bryant with dope, Wheaton with inconsistency, Coats with injury. The Steelers seemed to have stacked the deck on this one ... it's hard to believe one of their WRs won't step into and hold onto the #2 WR position. I keep going back to that Pats* game where they only had 9 points until garbage time.

Days later and I'm still confused by this pick. I understand the whole issue with Bryant and can he be trusted. However, there have been younger guys on the roster (Ayers, Hamilton) who have proven themselves valuable players and can sustain the position.

Certainly wasn't a need in the 2nd round. I would've rather seen them take another defensive player to help solidify that side of the ball.

I like this pick. He's tough like Hines was and has great hands. Can't wait.

First a head scratcher for me, but upon review, I like the depth and the fact we have YET to have a number two reliably line up opposite of AB. Maybe this will be our man if the litany of other folks don't show their mustard.

So much talent, but if you can't show up on gameday for whatever reasons, it means nothing. Character, work ethic, physicality are all just as important as talent.

stlrtruck wrote:

Days later and I'm still confused by this pick.  I understand the whole issue with Bryant and can he be trusted.  However, there have been younger guys on the roster (Ayers, Hamilton) who have proven themselves valuable players and can sustain the position.

Certainly wasn't a need in the 2nd round.  I would've rather seen them take another defensive player to help solidify that side of the ball.

Do you know how many receptions that Ayers and Hamilton had in the 2 playoff games vs Miami and Kansas City? Are those the guys that you think Ben Roethilisberger thinks can take pressure off AB or be a viable 2nd option when AB gets double teamed? BTW, the answer is they had a combined 5 catches in those 2 playoff games....AB had 6 by himself in KC alone.

I saw this pick happening. I said that he was one of the guys that would be a good option when they were on the clock in the 2nd round and I wasn't surprised, but rather happy they got a WR of his skill.

JuJu is a big body that can get up and make those tough contested catches, plus he knows how to get open in the red zone, and he can run the route tree. Watching his film he looks to be much more promising than both Hamilton and Ayers. Who knows? He may turn out to be terrible, which can happen with any draft pick, but watching the tape I think he's going to be a big threat in the redzone and as a possession type of receiver. He may also get in to work on some running plays and screens due to his physicality as a blocker.

So often our offense makes it's biggest plays when Ben is extending the play. One thing I really liked that I saw from film of JuJu is that he stays active and a lot of his big plays came when he kept working to get open as his QB extended the play. Big body, that keeps working to get open, and has a nose to find open areas in the defense... Yes please.

Hamilton really isn't that good, he'll make a play here or there but truthfully the guy is a career backup at best. Ayers, the jury is still out on him, but I'm going to guess that bringing in guys like JuJu and Cameron Sutton (KR experience) doesn't really look like a vote of confidence from the coaching staff in Ayers.

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

JuJu is a big body that can get up and make those tough contested catches, plus he knows how to get open in the red zone, and he can run the route tree. Watching his film he looks to be much more promising than both Hamilton and Ayers. Who knows? He may turn out to be terrible, which can happen with any draft pick, but watching the tape I think he's going to be a big threat in the redzone and as a possession type of receiver. He may also get in to work on some running plays and screens due to his physicality as a blocker.

So often our offense makes it's biggest plays when Ben is extending the play. One thing I really liked that I saw from film of JuJu is that he stays active and a lot of his big plays came when he kept working to get open as his QB extended the play. Big body, that keeps working to get open, and has a nose to find open areas in the defense... Yes please.

Hamilton really isn't that good, he'll make a play here or there but truthfully the guy is a career backup at best. Ayers, the jury is still out on him, but I'm going to guess that bringing in guys like JuJu and Cameron Sutton (KR experience) doesn't really look like a vote of confidence from the coaching staff in Ayers.

I agree that Hamilton isn't really that good. Good hands and taller than most Steelers WR's. I don't think Sutton is any indication of what they think of Ayers. Its just that Ayers is pretty much another short, quick slot WR like Eli Rodgers and not a guy that will consistently win on the outside, where JuJu can.

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

JuJu is a big body that can get up and make those tough contested catches, plus he knows how to get open in the red zone, and he can run the route tree. Watching his film he looks to be much more promising than both Hamilton and Ayers. Who knows? He may turn out to be terrible, which can happen with any draft pick, but watching the tape I think he's going to be a big threat in the redzone and as a possession type of receiver. He may also get in to work on some running plays and screens due to his physicality as a blocker.

So often our offense makes it's biggest plays when Ben is extending the play. One thing I really liked that I saw from film of JuJu is that he stays active and a lot of his big plays came when he kept working to get open as his QB extended the play. Big body, that keeps working to get open, and has a nose to find open areas in the defense... Yes please.

Hamilton really isn't that good, he'll make a play here or there but truthfully the guy is a career backup at best. Ayers, the jury is still out on him, but I'm going to guess that bringing in guys like JuJu and Cameron Sutton (KR experience) doesn't really look like a vote of confidence from the coaching staff in Ayers.

I agree that Hamilton isn't really that good.  Good hands and taller than most Steelers WR's.  I don't think Sutton is any indication of what they think of Ayers.  Its just that Ayers is pretty much another short, quick slot WR like Eli Rodgers and not a guy that will consistently win on the outside, where JuJu can.

I guess I could've worded it better but I think Ayers was also being looked at for KR duties, and that's where I was drawing the comparison between him and Sutton. I don't see them keeping Ayers anymore because he's not really better than anyone else we have on the roster playing receiver, and his value as a KR diminished when they brought on Sutton as he has KR experience. So I guess I was just saying Ayers' stock is down and doesn't have a whole lot of value at the moment.

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

JuJu is a big body that can get up and make those tough contested catches, plus he knows how to get open in the red zone, and he can run the route tree. Watching his film he looks to be much more promising than both Hamilton and Ayers. Who knows? He may turn out to be terrible, which can happen with any draft pick, but watching the tape I think he's going to be a big threat in the redzone and as a possession type of receiver. He may also get in to work on some running plays and screens due to his physicality as a blocker.

So often our offense makes it's biggest plays when Ben is extending the play. One thing I really liked that I saw from film of JuJu is that he stays active and a lot of his big plays came when he kept working to get open as his QB extended the play. Big body, that keeps working to get open, and has a nose to find open areas in the defense... Yes please.

Hamilton really isn't that good, he'll make a play here or there but truthfully the guy is a career backup at best. Ayers, the jury is still out on him, but I'm going to guess that bringing in guys like JuJu and Cameron Sutton (KR experience) doesn't really look like a vote of confidence from the coaching staff in Ayers.

I agree that Hamilton isn't really that good.  Good hands and taller than most Steelers WR's.  I don't think Sutton is any indication of what they think of Ayers.  Its just that Ayers is pretty much another short, quick slot WR like Eli Rodgers and not a guy that will consistently win on the outside, where JuJu can.

I guess I could've worded it better but I think Ayers was also being looked at for KR duties, and that's where I was drawing the comparison between him and Sutton. I don't see them keeping Ayers anymore because he's not really better than anyone else we have on the roster playing receiver, and his value as a KR diminished when they brought on Sutton as he has KR experience. So I guess I was just saying Ayers' stock is down and doesn't have a whole lot of value at the moment.

Yeah, I think the WR depth will look something like AB, Bryant, JuJu, Rodgers, Coates, Hunter, Ayers, Hamilton. the last 4 of those are up for grabs IMO. Steelers like the grind of Ayers and I look for them to keep 6 WR's, because they think Bryant is a liability and so are Coates hands. Ayers might make the 53 or can they still put him on the PS?

Ayers is quicker than fast and a hard worker. I think they still will try and keep him in the fold as insurance in case Rogers gets hurt and Bryant gets high.

Wish there was an all-22 view to see more.