JuJu Smith-Schuster Could Be Fit for Packers after Davante Adams Trade

Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster could become a top target of the Green Bay Packers, after the Pack traded star wide receiver Davante Adams on Thursday.

Adams, who had refused to sign his franchise tag tender, was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2022 first- and second-round draft pick. He then agreed to a five-year, $142 million contract that makes him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL

That’s left the Packers thin at receiver, and they could be looking to Smith-Schuster to fill the void, according to Evan Massey.

Things have been quiet with the Steelers’ free agent wide receiver through four days of contact with NFL teams. The team that Smith-Schuster was most connected to before the start of free agency, the Philadelphia Eagles, has backed off.

The wide receiver market has been dominated by big moves like Adams’ trade, Amari Cooper going from the Dallas Cowboys to the Cleveland Browns, and the Jacksonville Jaguars shelling out $84 million for Christian Kirk but many top free agents remain unsigned.

Odell Beckham Jr., Cole Beasley, DeSean Jackson, Will Fuller, A.J. Green, Julio Jones, T.Y. Hilton, Jarvis Landry, Emmanuel Sanders and Sammy Watkins are all still on the market.

This is the second time in as many seasons Smith-Schuster has tested free agency without finding an immediate fit. Five days in, he re-signed with the Steelers on a one-year, $8 million contract.

That time, Smith-Schuster turned down more lucrative offers to stay with Pittsburgh, but it’s not clear if he will be willing to do so again. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said earlier this offseason that the Steelers would like to retain Smith-Schuster.

The Steelers have three free agent wide receivers out of their five regulars from 2021. Ray-Ray McCloud has reportedly agreed to a contract with the San Francisco 49ers, while Smith-Schuster and James Washington remain on the marker.