JuJu Smith-Schuster turns down Ravens and Chiefs to stay with Steelers on 1-year deal
The Pittsburgh Steelers keep an offensive weapon in JuJu Smith-Schuster for the 2021 season.
By Jeff.Hartman@BnGBlitz Updated Mar 19, 2021, 1:30pm EDT
NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers have seen many of their free agents leave to find new homes in the NFL. Players like Bud Dupree, Tyson Alualu and Mike Hilton are all calling a new team home. But one big name had yet to sign with another team.
That name was JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The longer Smith-Schuster remained a free agent, it seemed as if the chances were greater he would potentially return to the Steelers. Low and behold, Friday afternoon Smith-Schuster decided to stay in Pittsburgh, turning down offers from the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs to do so.
This from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network:
JuJu to the #Steelers on a 1-year worth $8M, source said. He had better offers from the #Ravens and the #Chiefs. But stays in PIT. https://t.co/Kz9aaR1srN
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2021
See what Smith-Schuster said himself on his verified Twitter account about returning:
This is my home, they’re gonna need a wrecking ball to take me outta here! PITTSBURGH I LOVE YOU, LET’S GO!!!!! pic.twitter.com/SPFvCLUmFl
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) March 19, 2021
So what did Smith-Schuster turn down to come back to Pittsburgh? According to NFL Network’s Taylor Bisciotti, the deals were as follows:
— Taylor Bisciotti (@TaylorBisciotti) March 19, 2021
Additionally, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Eagles were also in the mix with a larger contract.
JuJu Smith-Schuster also turned down more money on a multi-year deal from the Eagles than he took to return to the Steelers, per source. The Eagles’ were a secret suitor. But Smith-Schuster loved Pittsburgh and its fans too much to leave. https://t.co/X8gitZYxwd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2021
The return of Smith-Schuster might be viewed as him signing a one-year “prove it” type deal. With the salary cap dipping to $182.5 this year, it is safe to say Smith-Schuster is betting on himself to play well, and earn more money in 2022 when the salary cap is expected to balloon up over $200 million dollars.
In his four years in Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster has seen his role tweaked as the wide receiver room has changed. Taking a league by storm his first two seasons, Smith-Schuster earned a Pro Bowl bid in 2018 when he had 1,426 receiving yards on 111 receptions. After an injury riddled 2019, as well as missing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Smith-Schuster led the Steelers in receptions in 2020 with 97. His 831 receiving yards last season was third on the Steelers behind Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, and his nine receiving touchdowns was tied with Claypool.
Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes on the Steelers as [Reply]
Originally Posted by St. Patty's Fire:
Chark would be ****ing insane (in a good way)
Dudes a monster but he plays for Jacksonville so
Imagine him in a real offense
Chark would be my #1 target for WRs. He's 6'4 and runs a 4.34 in the 40. He's had good production with Bortles, Minshey and Foles throwing to him. He may be too expensive but it would be worth seeing what he wants. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Dante84:
Veach offered $8M + $3M incentives last year.
Since then, he ****ed his shoulder up and put up shitty stats in just 5 games.
If we can get a combo of him AND EITHER Godwin OR Robinson, I'll be thrilled. Then we can get a developmental WR in the mid-rounds, and hopefully Powell has evolved in the offseason.
1- Tyreek Hill
2- Chris Godwin OR Allen Robinson
3- JuJu Smith-Schuster
4- Mecole Hardman
5- Byron Pringle
6- Rookie or Cornell Powell
Let D-Rob, Kemp, Gordan, Fountain etc... walk.
With that shored up, we can go all in on Defense in the draft, and maybe a random RT & RB or something for the offense.
There is no freaking way we can afford Chris Godwin.
Originally Posted by Dante84:
Veach offered $8M + $3M incentives last year.
Since then, he ****ed his shoulder up and put up shitty stats in just 5 games.
If we can get a combo of him AND EITHER Godwin OR Robinson, I'll be thrilled. Then we can get a developmental WR in the mid-rounds, and hopefully Powell has evolved in the offseason.
1- Tyreek Hill
2- Chris Godwin OR Allen Robinson
3- JuJu Smith-Schuster
4- Mecole Hardman
5- Byron Pringle
6- Rookie or Cornell Powell
Let D-Rob, Kemp, Gordan, Fountain etc... walk.
With that shored up, we can go all in on Defense in the draft, and maybe a random RT & RB or something for the offense.
I don’t think Godwin is a possibility. Robinson might be if he wants to take a prove it deal to boost his ability to get a contract next year. [Reply]
I like the idea of Chark as well. I think he would be a great third option in the offense. He's been hurt so he might be a little cheaper as well. Hopefully the injuries don't become a problem (like Watkins). [Reply]
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's part of the Chark fanclub. I'd be utterly stunned if he isn't the guy Veach goes for tbh. Good age, height, speed, runs good routes etc...just a perfect option to play alongside Tyreek and Travis imo. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
I don’t think Godwin is a possibility. Robinson might be if he wants to take a prove it deal to boost his ability to get a contract next year.
Either one of them. Can you imagine this offense with Hill, Godwin/Robinson, Kelce, Hardman and Pringle all on the field in a five wide set?
I hate to be the dumb turd that says it, but I just don't know how Veach could pull off a Godwin/Robinson AND deal with Orlando Brown AND Tyrann Mathieu AND possibly Tyreek AND Melvin Gordon AND Charvarious Ward. Maybe I'm overthinking and SNR has it. Hopefully. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
Either one of them. Can you imagine this offense with Hill, Godwin/Robinson, Kelce, Hardman and Pringle all on the field in a five wide set?
I hate to be the dumb turd that says it, but I just don't know how Veach could pull off a Godwin/Robinson AND deal with Orlando Brown AND Tyrann Mathieu AND possibly Tyreek AND Melvin Gordon AND Charvarious Ward. Maybe I'm overthinking and SNR has it. Hopefully.
Take Mathieu off that list. No reason to pay him top $$$ when his best years are already behind him. [Reply]
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster expressed interest in signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent, sources told Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.
Smith-Schuster is on track to hit the open market in March. He took a one-year deal to stay with the Steelers last year after turning down offers from the Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
A shoulder injury limited Smith-Schuster to 15 catches for 129 yards over five regular-season appearances in 2021. He returned months ahead of schedule to play in the Steelers' postseason loss to the Chiefs.
Smith-Schuster has spent his entire five-year career in Pittsburgh. He said at the end of the season that "it would be nice to stay for another four years," but it's unclear how far the Steelers are willing to extend themselves financially to keep him.
The Steelers selected Smith-Schuster in the second round of the 2017 draft. The USC product rose to stardom with a 1,426-yard campaign in 2018, but he hasn't reached the 1,000-yard mark since. [Reply]
Honestly, guys, we just need a #2. It’s not possible for us to acquire two #2 WRs as some of you are suggesting. We have a HOF QB, and we’ve already got a HOF TE and a HOF-caliber WR. We’re okay.
Meanwhile, we’ve got an entire DL and secondary to rebuild.
If you get a Godwin OR a Robinson OR hit on a 1st or 2nd round pick OR, sure, you go for JuJu because you know he’s better than he looked this year…. That moves Pringle to #3 and Hardman is your X factor speedster. Everybody is where they fit.
It’s like this year’s DL. You didn’t need to rebuild it for it to look excellent, you only needed a legit starting DE in Ingram and everybody else could slide into the role they work best in.
In 2022, Veach should make a #2 WR a priority, but he’s going to need to invest a lot of time and resources in DL and secondary. [Reply]