On The Line: Steelers should reload, not rebuild and try to keep JuJu taken Hendersonville, Tenn. (Steelers)

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JuJu Smith-Schuster stiff arms a defender at Heinz Field on Dec. 27, 2020.

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. — The term “NFL offseason” might be the biggest misnomer in sports. There isn’t one, and, truth be told, there hasn’t been one in years.

The league ensures that the news cycle never stops churning, and we as fans consume every morsel. As soon as the Sticky Lombardi is awarded, everyone looks forward to pro days, free agency, mock drafts, the draft and OTAs. The only difference this year was the cancellation of the combine due to COVID-19 restrictions.  

This offseason has been a particularly intriguing one for Steelers’ fans. Coming off a disappointing ending to the 2020 campaign, the club is faced with a tricky set up circumstances because of the high number of free agents and a potentially lower salary cap. There are reports that veteran after veteran will be cut around the league and plenty of contracts will need to reworked simply to cobble rosters together. 

The pandemic has affected everyone in some type of way, and the NFL isn’t bulletproof. That leads us to the Steelers’ plight. For years, the club’s cap wizard Omar Khan has found ways to avoid doomsday scenarios. Management continually fields a competitive team, keeping the Steelers above the line in the race to contend. 

Not to say the 2021 season won’t be without challenges. Longtime center Maurkice Pouncey has retired. It’s unclear how many of the franchise’s free agents will be retained. At least the uncertainty surrounding Ben Roethlisberger has been resolved. I tip my hat to a guy like Ben, who’s willing to take a lot less to help surround himself with talent for what’s assumed to be his last ride. 

Change is definitely coming at a lot of positions, but I’m telling you the Steelers will remain steady. Some teams rebuild, others reload. The Steelers are in the latter category. 

There’s going to be some heartbreak in free agency with Bud Dupree likely at the top of the list. The organization has said it won’t be using the franchise tag on anyone because of its cap crunch. As much as it hurts, the Steelers are being fiscally responsible  

Dupree and JuJu Smith-Schuster will command plenty of attention on the open market. In free agency, all it takes is for one team to drive up the price. There’s no question Dupree — the edge rusher with 19.5 sacks over his last 27 games — is going to earn a big pay increase.

If I were advising the Steelers -- and no, I don’t have Kevin Colbert’s ear -- I would make a play to keep JuJu, who set career highs in touchdowns (nine) and catch percentage (75.8). He knows the offense that Ben and new offensive coordinator Matt Canada will be running. It also helps that Ben voiced his opinion on wanting JuJu to be a Steeler for life.

Some teams always are ahead of the curve, and the Steelers are among them in finding the “next man up.” Edge rusher Alex Highsmith is an example of how Colbert positions his team for reloads. 

On my Nashville sports-talk radio show, callers frequently point out how the Steelers find talent that’s often overlooked by others. Mike Hilton. Chase Claypool. Diontae Johnson. Antonio Brown. Javon Hargraves. The late, great Bill Nunn is headed to the Hall of Fame because of his contributions to the process, and it’s been passed down over the years. There’s really no way to pinpoint how, the Steelers just do it. 

The great unknown comes after Ben retires. Who is his successor? How do you move on from a Hall-of-Fame passer who’s given us years of stability and two Super Bowls? 

Step one is to evolve with the league in terms of quarterbacks. Today’s game is more misdirection and play action. The dual-threat QB might be a hard sell to traditional Steelers’ fans, but it’s the way football is trending and what the colleges are producing in the spread-formation era. Canada is known for his explosive plays and misdirecting schemes — which is all the rage in the college ranks.

For now, however, let’s keep the focus on the upcoming season with Ben at the helm. I expect the Steelers to reload, not rebuild. 

Yes, free agency is going to sting, Steelers fans. I was never a part of a Pittsburgh team that had this much talent headed to open market or in need of contract restructuring. It leads to a lot of uncomfortable questions and anxiety. But we can’t cry about what hasn’t happened yet. I trust Colbert and Khan will get us where we need to be. 

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