Steelers decisions are puzzling

The two stories broke within moments Friday afternoon. First came word that the Steelers had given Steven Nelson permission to seek a trade. It was a stunning development considering his value as a starting cornerback, a position where the team isn’t deep. Then came the report that JuJu Smith-Schuster was coming back on a oneyear deal worth $8 million. That was nearly as surprising because it had been assumed he would leave for riches on the free-agent market.

Thereis more bad than good to the two stories.

Cornerback already was a much weaker position for the Steelers after they lost Mike Hilton to free agency last

week. If Nelson leaves, they’ll have Joe Haden and Cam Sutton as their starters with Justin Layne as their third corner. Haden will be 32 on April 14, although he’s still a fine player and important leader on the field and in the locker room. Sutton has started just eight games in four seasons, six last season. Layne did little in his first two seasons to show he is a top player.

Now, factor in the Steelers draft history. They have not been very successful in drafting cornerbacks. Why would they allow a proven player to go now when the team believes it can take one final shot at a Super Bowl with Ben Roethlisberger?

By letting Nelson go — there have been reports the Steelers will release him if it can’t trade him in order to clear cap space — their defense will become less effective. Isn’t that supposed to be the team’s strength, the driving force behind a playoff run? The defense already lost Hilton, Bud Dupree, Vince Williams and Tyson Alualu last week. Dupree’s departure alone could be a killer.

Getting rid of Nelson makes no sense.

When the news broke about Smith- Schuster, the assumption was that it came down to him or Nelson for the Steelers under their tight salary cap. Then word came Saturday that the team gave Smith- Schuster a $ 7 million signing bonus with a $ 1 million salary with four voidable years at the end of his contract. That means his salarycap hit next season will be just $ 2.4 million. That makes bringing him back much more palatable even if it means the team is kicking money down the road that must be accounted for after Smith- Schuster is gone.

Mike Tomlin certainly must be happy about SmithSchuster being back for another season. He loves him as a football player. “He’s physically and mentally tough,” Tomlin told Steelers. com late last season. “I just think he brings a can- do attitude always. He is the leader of the young guns. Anybody who knows him, his teammates know he is an energy- bringer. He is a team player first.” Tomlin went on to predict SmithSchuster, though just 24, will be a team captain one day.

Roethlisberger also must thrilled. He, too, loves SmithSchuster. “I’m glad he’s on my team,” Roethlisberger said late last season. “I hope I can play with him for a long time.” Roethlisberger repeatedly has called Smith- Schuster the

Steelers No. 1 receiver.

I respect Tomlin’s wisdom and Roethlisberger’s judgment.

But I still don’t like bringing Smith- Schuster back. The Steelers have too many other needs and too little cap space to fill them. They really don’t need Smith- Schuster. Diontae Johnson is a better receiver even though he had too many drops last season. I believe he will catch the ball a lot better next season. Chase Claypool also is better and James Washington is an adequate No. 3. Eric Ebron, a de facto wide receiver, is a tight end in official position only.

That isn’t to say SmithSchuster isn’t a fine player. Tomlin is right when he talks about the kid’s toughness. How many times did SmithSchuster turn a short pass into a first down last season when a less physical receiver would have been stopped short?

But Smith- Schuster isn’t a No. 1 receiver. His production hasn’t been the same since Antonio Brown — a true No. 1 in every sense — left the Steelers. His statistical fall in 2019 was understandable to a degree because Roethlisberger missed all but the first gameanda- half with an elbow injury that required surgery. But last season with Roethlisberger? Smith- Schuster had 97 catches but averaged just 8.6 yards per catch. That ranked 126th among NFL receivers.

The other NFL clubs noticed.

Smith- Schuster expected a big- money, long- term deal in free agency and all but said his goodbyes to Pittsburgh and the Steelers on social media a few days before it began. But the rich offers never came. Nothing even resembling a big offer came. That’s why Smith- Schuster came back, although he could have received more from the Baltimore Ravens or the Kansas City Chiefs, according to multiple reports.

Clearly, Smith- Schuster is comfortable with Tomlin and Roethlisberger. He said he has talked with new offensive coordinator Matt Canada and perhaps has been given assurances he’ll be used differently in the offense this season than he was last season when he was nothing more than a singles hitter. He knows if he stays healthy and has a good season he’ll be in a better position to cash in next year when the salary cap is expected to increase significantly.

It really is easy to see this working out for Smith- Schuster.

It is much harder seeing it work out for the Steelers without Nelson.