JuJu Smith-Schuster announced Friday that he has agreed to sign again with the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming only the third wide receiver in the modern era to win a second contract with the organization, joining Hines Ward and Antonio Brown.
Sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN that the Baltimore Ravens put strong pressure to sign Smith-Schuster and that the Philadelphia Eagles also offered a multi-year deal with more money, but ended up taking significantly more. little money to stay with the Steelers in a business year.
“This is my house, they’re going to need a wrecked ball to get me out of here! PITTSBURGH I LOVE YOU, LET’S GO !!!!!” posted on Twitter.
This is my house, they will need a wreck ball to get me out of here! PITTSBURGH I LOVE YOU, LET’S GO !!!!! 💛🖤💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/SPFvCLUmFl
– JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) March 19, 2021
I can’t say enough, I love you Pittsburgh. A 20-year-old man came here and you hugged me from the moment I got here. So much love. I had my back through all, all the struggles and the success. So hard to leave. See you this fall in Heinz WE’RE GOING CRAZY !!!
– JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) March 19, 2021
However, Smith-Schuster’s signing has no consequences, and on Friday, the Steelers, with a hat, also granted permission to defender Steven Nelson to seek a transaction, a source told Schefter.
The Steelers had less than $ 4 million in the maximum space on Friday morning, and Nelson’s trading or reduction would release a little more than $ 8 million.
Nelson’s departure would make him the fifth defensive player to leave the team in a free agency, including veteran defender Vince Williams, who was released earlier this week.
Not my partner in CRIMES !!!!! @Nelson_Island 🥺🥺🥺🥺😤 !!! Love yourself brother! This league is cut in the neck
– Joe Haden (@ joehaden23) March 19, 2021
Smith-Schuster’s 2020 season ended on a sour note as he was fired for his comments before the final loss of the season to rival Cleveland Browns.
“I think they’re still the same Browns I played every year,” Smith-Schuster said before the game. “I think they are nameless gray faces. They have some good players on their team. But at the end of the day, the Browns are Browns.”
The receiver was also examined during the season for his viral dances on opponents’ midfield logos before games and posting them on TikTok – a practice he stopped after coach Mike Tomlin spoke to him as he drew more and more attention from opponents and the media.
Smith-Schuster, 24, became a fan favorite shortly after being selected in the second round of the 2017 draft. Known for cycling to the South Side, Smith-Schuster won even more. much notoriety when it was stolen and then returned in 24 hours.
As a rookie, Smith-Schuster quickly gained attention on the field as a no. 2 to Antonio Brown, capturing 58 passes for 917 yards and seven touchdowns – including a 97-yard score.
A year later, he surpassed 1,000 meters, with 1,426 receiving meters and seven more touchdowns, plus a 13-meter TD.
Once Brown left, however, Smith-Schuster did not climb to the top for dogs as smoothly as he had hoped. His 2019 season was full of painful injuries and he missed four games. Playing without Ben Roethlisberger, Smith-Schuster finished with a career low of 552 meters and three touchdowns.
The following season, Smith-Schuster returned to the slot, recording 831 receiving yards and the best nine touchdowns of his career. He was the target of Roethlisberger in the third descent and received praise from his defender and coach for his mistake and ability to lift the courts by contact.
In four NFL seasons, he has 308 receptions for 3,726 yards, 26 receiving touchdowns in 58 games.
Brooke Pryor of ESPN contributed to this report.