Smith-Schuster coming back
Declines more money elsewhere
The Steelers defense has been decimated by free-agent defections this week, but the team’s offense is keeping one of its most important players.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers’ leader in receptions last season and Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target, is signing a one-year deal for $8 million.
“This is my home,” Smith-Schuster tweeted Friday. “They’re gonna need a wrecking ball to take me outta here! PITTSBURGH, I LOVE YOU, LET’S GO!!!!!”
The move comes after the Steelers lost defensive starters Vince Williams, Tyson Alualu, Mike Hilton and Bud Dupree earlier this week. A fifth is heading out the door, with the Steelers granting permission to cornerback Steven Nelson to seek a trade. If he can’t find a trade he’s likely to be released.
Nelson is entering the final year of his contract and carries a cap hit of more than $14 million.
The Steelers lost offensive lineman Matt Feiler in free agency, and they’re likely to lose Alejandro Villanueva and James Conner as well. But Smith-Schuster’s return is a welcome bit of news for Roethlisberger, who lost center Maurkice Pouncey and tight end Vance McDonald as teammates
earlier this offseason.
Roethlisberger took a $5 million pay cut to remain with the Steelers, and SmithSchuster turned down other offers to remain with the team that drafted him.
ESPN reported the Ravens and Chiefs offered Smith-Schuster more money to sign with them, but he stayed true to his word and remained loyal to the Steelers.
Smith-Schuster has been vocal since the end of the season that he did not want to leave.
“I would love to stay in Pittsburgh,” Smith-Schuster said after the Steelers lost to the Browns in the playoffs. “I built a strong foundation and a strong fan base. I love Coach [Mike] Tomlin and Coach Ike [Hilliard], everybody I’ve been around. They’ve helped change the way I am, I love the game of football and I would love to do it again.
In turning down the Chiefs and Ravens to remain with the Steelers, Smith-Schuster turned down the opportunity to play with two of the top young quarterbacks in the game. Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to the Super Bowl the past two seasons, and Lamar Jackson has led the Ravens to the playoffs the past three seasons.
Smith-Schuster, in essence, is gambling his financial future on the 39-year old Roethlisberger returning to form after struggling late last season and in the playoffs.
Roethlisberger and Smith-Schuster have a strong rapport and chemistry on the field. In his first four seasons, SmithSchuster has 308 receptions and 26 touchdowns, including 97 catches and 9 touchdowns last season, both career highs.
“If it was up to me, yes, I would love to have [Roethlisberger] back,” SmithSchuster said moments after the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs. “He’s an amazing guy. I’ve known him for four years of my life and I watched him growing up. To have the opportunity to play with him again would be unbelievable. It’s up to him and his family and the Man above to decide. Like I said I’m appreciative of him and all the veterans who have helped me throughout.”
In returning to the Steelers Smith -Schuster knows he’ll be a major part of the offense. And by signing a one-year deal, he can hit the market again when teams could be spending more freely.
If Smith-Schuster opted for the Chiefs he would have been the third option in their offense after tight end Travis Kelce and No. 1 receiver Tyreek Hill. If he had signed with Baltimore he would have been incorporated into a running offense where receivers have struggled to put up strong numbers.
The free-agent market for receivers was not all that strong this year. Others are settling for far less than what they were anticipating as well. Before free agency began, overthecap.com estimated Smith-Schuster’s open market value at $16 million a year.
Now he’ll make half of that and hope he can rediscover what made him one of the best young receivers in the game in 2017 and 2018.
Smith-Schuster had 169 catches for 2,343 yards in his first two seasons in the league, but he’s struggled to match that production the past two seasons.
With Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges at quarterback in 2019, he had 42 receptions for 552 yards and last season he managed only 831 yards, mostly due to the Steelers favoring a short passing game as well as their penchant for keeping him in the slot as their inside possession receiver.
Roethlisberger won’t be short on weapons for the passing game. The Steelers also have receivers Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud under contract for next season.