New England Patriots: 5 uniquely bold predictions for 2021 NFL offseason

New England Patriots free agent surprise signing: JuJu Smith-Schuster

The New England Patriots will make a surprise free agent signing and it will actually be a wide receiver.

The uniquely bold prediction here is that Bill Belichick will actually lore pending free agent receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster away from the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 24-year-old playmaker inspired by the opportunity to be the man in New England.

Though Smith-Schuster has recently declared his desire to retire in Pittsburgh, the NFL is a business, and the Steelers may not offer the Smith-Schuster the money he feels he deserves due to their current cap situation, the Patriots could move in on a receiver who fits the mold of what they are looking for in a top receiver.

In 2020, Smith-Schuster caught 97 passes for 831 yards and 9 touchdowns.  More of a possession receiver with big play potential, the Patriots could get the fifth-year receiver back to the level he was at in 2018 when he broke out for 111 catches for 1426 yards.

Of course, this is going to all depend on who is throwing him the ball.  The New England Patriots may need to have a top-level quarterback in place to lore a player like JuJu Smith-Schuster unless they make him an offer he simply can’t refuse.

Knowing the history of Bill Belichick the GM, he will not pay top of the market for a wide receiver, so it may take convincing Smith-Schuster that he will be the focal point of the offense.  If Belichick believes in him, he’ll make it happen and shock the NFL on Day 1 of free agency.