Did Rams make a mistake passing on JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2017 NFL Draft?

When looking at the impact JuJu Smith-Schuster had made with the Pittsburgh Steelers, did the Los Angeles Rams make a mistake passing on the wideout during the 2017 NFL Draft?

Leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft, one of the most popular names linked to the Los Angeles Rams when it came to a possible selection was former USC standout JuJu Smith-Schuster. For a team that was in desperate need of help at the wide receiver position, Smith-Schuster seemed to be a potential fit as another weapon for Jared Goff to work with in the passing game.

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Even though the Rams didn’t have a first-round pick due to the trade with the Tennessee Titans to land Goff, Smith-Schuster was still expected to fall in the second or third round since there were plenty of other talented receivers expected to be selected before him. And while Los Angeles had the opportunity to select Smith-Schuster, who the Pittsburgh Steelers selected at No. 62, in the second round, the team ended up going with tight end Gerald Everett instead.

From Sean McVay‘s perspective, this move to select Everett really wasn’t that much of a surprise when considering how successful the head coach has been over the years when it comes to developing tight ends on offense. But when seeing how much of an impact Smith-Schuster is already making as a dangerous threat in the passing game for the Steelers, it’s tough not to wonder if the Rams made a mistake back in April.

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Just like most rookies, there were plenty of NFL scouts that questioned whether Smith-Schuster had what it takes to make it at the NFL level, despite the fact that he earned 20 trips into the end zone during his final two seasons with the Trojans. But after Smith-Schuster’s best performance of his young career coming in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions (seven catches for 193 yards with a touchdown), Los Angeles can only wonder if they made the wrong decision in the second round during this year’s NFL Draft by going with Everett over the young wideout.