Mark Madden says JuJu Smith-Schuster won't be with Steelers in 2021, 'no matter what'
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and I recap the NFL Draft. We do so from a Steelers standpoint to start.
Mark and I are of the same opinion that the franchise didn’t have much to play with, and they didn’t exactly make a lot happen.
They got the 11th wide receiver off the board. They took a backup outside linebacker from a mid-tier conference. They failed to get one of the top four running backs in the draft. They didn’t find a potential replacement for Javon Hargrave until the seventh round. And nothing was done to offset Mark Barron’s snaps.
So how much did the 2020 Steelers really improve from 2019? Mark and I try to determine that.
Does the drafting of Chase Claypool signal that 2020 will be the last year for JuJu Smith-Schuster? Mark says, “JuJu is not going to be on the team next year no matter what.”
We investigate what the running back situation may look like with the addition of Anthony McFarland Jr. We also look at what the acquisition of Kevin Dotson means for recently signed guard Stefen Wisniewski.
Beyond that, we recap the draft broadcast itself. After all the technological challenges that it faced, I thought it came off pretty well. A little too much pulling on the heartstrings for my taste after every pick. But all in all, I thought the unique elements of the coaches making picks from their own homes was a different feel.
Mark thinks that’s something the league may be able to replicate in the future after the draft goes to Cleveland in 2021 and Las Vegas in 2022. But I think it may be a little too difficult to capture if they try it again.
Leaguewide, we share some thoughts about what may happen with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, how the Ravens did over the weekend with their picks, and our anticipation of how the New England-Tampa fallout may go in the wake of Tom Brady’s departure for Florida.
Plus, we kick around the idea of when we might see a return of the sports world as we continue to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden break down how the Steelers did in the 2020 NFL Draft
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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