Last season, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster finished the season with 111 receptions for 1,426 yards. His evolution into a complete wide receiver was amazing to watch. But in a league stuffed with wide receiver talent, sorting out the best is no easy task.
But if you ask New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson, Smith-Schuster doesn’t belong in that conversation.
When a reporter asked Jackson about Smith-Schuster being one of the best in the league, he shot that notion down.
“In my opinion, I don’t think so. There’s a lot of good receivers in the NFL,” Jackson said. “I mean, he’s a great receiver. I’m not saying that. He’s a good football player. Makes a lot of plays.”
Jackson is speaking from a perspective of experience. He held Smith-Schuster to 40 yards on only four receptions in Week 15 last season, a game the Steelers won 17-10.
Smith-Schuster will have to be in full-blown “prove myself” mode all season long. The departure of Antonio Brown has opened Smith-Schuster up for criticism to those who think he’s production was a product of the coverage Brown drew.
