7 free-agent receivers the Vikings could sign in 2022
By Luke Parrish
JuJu Smith-Schuster
2021 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Now, if the Vikings want to make a splash this offseason, they could go after some of the top free agents in hopes of finding a long-term replacement for Adam Thielen. JuJu Smith-Schuster is going to turn a lot of fans away because of his online presence, which is incredibly ignorant on the part of the fans.
JuJu bet on himself in 2021 during free agency and returned to the Steelers to prove himself as a top option in the passing game. With Big Ben falling off a cliff and JuJu suffering a season-ending injury, that plan backfired horribly for Smith-Schuster.
Looking at his career as a whole, JuJu is arguably the most attractive free agent on the market when you factor in cost and upside. He put up over 2,300 yards with 14 touchdowns over his first two seasons with Pittsburgh.
The next two seasons were a bit disappointing with an injury limiting his production in 2019 as he played just 12 games and picked up 552 yards on 42 grabs. He bounced back in 2020 with 97 grabs for 831 yards and nine touchdowns, but that did not help him ink a massive contract in 2021.
JuJu does a lot of work out of the slot and is a short-yardage fiend. With Justin Jefferson taking things down the field and stretching out the defense, JuJu would be an exciting option over the middle and underneath for Kirk Cousins.