It was a breeze for JuJu Smith-Schuster to return to Pittsburgh.
The star-wide recipient of Steelers couldn’t turn down the opportunity to play with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for another season. As a result, he signed a one-year contract worth up to $ 8 million to return to the team. After Smith-Schuster made his decision, the NFL network reported, citing sources from the Kansas City Chiefs [$8 million, $3 million in incentives]and the Baltimore Ravens [$9 million, $4 million in incentives] both made offers that were significantly better.
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Clearly, money was not a factor in Smith-Schuster’s decision. The USC product wanted to stay with the team that designed it in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
“The biggest thing was that I know everyone and everyone knows me,” Smith-Schuster told Fox News on Monday. “I know if I had to bet on myself I would be playing with Ben [Roethlisberger] again for another year. I know my wide receiver coach [Ike Hilliard]My relationship with him is amazing. My relationship with the new offensive coordinator [Matt Canada] is really good, and that goes a long way in making the right decision. “
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Smith-Schuster felt that playing for the Ravens or Chiefs would have meant “starting over for a year”. And there was no guarantee he would be on the same team next year. Even though he signed a one-year deal to stay with the Steelers, he still believes 2021 will be a year to prove it.
“You have to prove yourself every year,” added Smith-Schuster. “It’s something I’ve always had on my shoulders. At the same time, it’s a year when I want to put the numbers up and show people that this is what I’m made of and what I do.”
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Last season, Smith-Schuster was a key part of the Steelers, who ended with a 12-4 record and winners of the AFC North. He made 97 receptions for 831 yards with nine touchdowns.
In his second NFL season, Smith-Schuster had the best year of his young career. He had 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns. He’ll be looking to regain that form despite the Steelers having tons of mouths to feed, including Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and Najee Harris, whom Pittsburgh took over with his first election in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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