Really? Not being enthusiastic about multi-year busts like Shenault and Rosen somehow means i'd advocate cutting a promising rookie like Smith-Njigba?
Easily I’ve been sitting on this in case I needed it but I didn’t want to go there for someone who might not even matter but then again could matter because he fits a very specific role, besides his versatility, that I really like about his game: the sacrificial lamb into the middle of defenses utilizing his big body. aggressive play and ability to make those tough physical catches in traffic. Because of Russell Wilson, Seahawks have two of the best vertical threat WRs in the NFL and I wouldn’t want Grubb to waste that talent like Waldron did last year with Metcalf trying to use him like a mere possession WR and like with Lockett trying to force him to be a YAC type WR.
Shenault’s first season in 14 games he had 59 catches off 78 targets, for 600 yards, and 5 TDs. While adding another 91 yards as a rusher off 18 carries. As a rookie with 3 different players at QB that made at least 3 starts.
JSN in 17 games had 63 catches out of 93 targets, for 620 yards, 4 TDS. No running stats. Pretty similar debuts between the two yet Shenault a touch more efficient but JSN arguably had way more talent helping him even if Waldron didn’t know how to effectively put it together and a much more stable QB situation.
Year 2 for Shenault saw some his efficiency drop but still produced 63 catches/100 targets, 619 yards, 11 rushes, 47 yards, 2 TDs. Stagnant but solid considering the Jags had to break in a rookie QB under the shitshow leadership of Urban Meyers while figuring out a new offensive scheme.
Year 3 for Shenault saw him get traded yet to another bad team just 1 week before the 2022 where he was inactive for the first 2 games. Due to having to learn yet another new offensive system. Yet, another season where 3 QBs split starts, this time at least 5 each. Shenault played in 13 games dealing with a shoulder injury that sideline him for 2 games, he had a paltry but highly efficient 27/32, 272 yards, 1 TD with 9 carries for 65 yards and another TD. Yet, it was his third straight season where his HC was either fired during or after the season.
And that bad luck would follow him for a 4th straight season as well as bad injury luck that took him out of 9 games playing on the worst team in the NFL for the 3rd time in his career, playing for another fired HC, and failed offensive system he had to endure for a 4th straight season. Another rookie QB that was one of the worst QBs in the NFL for the 2nd time in his career. All of this added up and along with a high ankle sprain that eventually I.R.’d season saw him get snaps in only 8 games putting out a 10/10, 60 yards as WR and 12 rushes for 55 yards but barely hanging on with his 4th new coaching staff in as many seasons that had zero investment in him saw him standout more as a kick returner after picking up the duty last season. Panthers would rank 2nd in KR average, 4th in KR yardage, just behind Seattle with Shenault putting up 6 returns for 167 yards for 27.8 avg. League avg per team was 23.0 yards. League leader by team was 26.7 yards. So while he might not have been one of the best returners, he was above average, and was looking like an a future opportunity within his skillset.
Full circle is you don’t know if JSN will fizzle out, he could be great but he also might not, there is no guarantee, both Shenault and JSN had similar production in their first season’s despite JSN being on a stronger offense with better weapons around him. So this is the reason I made that comment on cutting bait by your logic.
The biggest thing that I liked about Shenault is while he didn’t live up to the Jags drafting him as the 10th selection of the 2nd round and while he didn’t return the investment the Panthers gave up for him in trading for him to become a #1 or even a solid #2. That’s true. But that shouldn’t be the expectations you hold him accountable to moving forward. Despite the weird mirroring of both the Jags and Panthers being shitty teams and firing their coaching staffs in all 4 years Shenault played for them having to start from scratch each year, despite the even weirder circumstance of those teams cycling through 3 starting QBs, 1 season, then getting a deer-in-the-headlights performance from a #1 Overall pick QB the next season with both teams. Despite all that, he was still reasonably productive and was as versatile as he was steadily efficient in the opportunities that he got.
71.5 catch rate out of 221 targets is solid.
5.0 ypc out of 50 rushes is solid.
2052 all-purpose yards in 51 games/26 starts is solid.
Maybe he doesn’t have the ceiling or talent to be a 1, 2, or even 3 on a roster. But as a potential 4th or 5th option what more could you ask for than a versatile, efficiently dependable player.
The fact remains in a vacuum the floor was raised, Shenault at this point in 4 years has despite all the above has outproduced all of JSN, Bobo, Young, Eskridge, White, and Winston put together in like 10 collective seasons.
And some y’all are acting like he’s going to be significant hindrance and waste of roster spot? So weird. I’m not saying he’s better than those guys but he’s better than most of them. Not saying if he earns a roster spot he’s going to live up to his potential or that he has to, he doesn’t. If he is merely what he has been and that is a guy just making the most of his opportunities when given the chance whether as a receiver, runner, or returner that that is pretty solid for a back-end depth player. Replaceable but still solid.
And just one more tidbit before I finally stop (for the love of god please) guy protects the rock with only 2 fumbles in 217 touches. I’d say 1 (or less) fumble per 100 touches is quality handling and he’s been a touch better than that too.
Backups, beyond their skillsets, either need to have high enough ceilings that you’re developing to reach or high enough floors where they are consistently reliable and don’t make too many stupid mistakes if at all. Shenault is basically the epitome of the ladder.
