Reports: JuJu Smith-Schuster turns down better offers from Chiefs, Ravens to return to Steelers
JuJu Smith-Schuster has agreed to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal, NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti reports.
According to the report, the wide receiver turned down better offers from the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens to take a salary cap-friendly $8 million offer from the Steelers. The Chiefs offered $8 million with $3 million in incentives and the rival Ravens offered $9 million with $4 million in incentives, per the report.
No long-term deal yet for Smith-Schuster
Smith-Schuster reached the end of his rookie contract that paid him $4.1 million over four seasons. It appears that he's taking a short-term deal this season amid a league-wide salary cap crunch attributed to COVID-19.
Smith-Schuster made the Pro Bowl in his second season, tallying 111 catches for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns. His production dropped the past two seasons with a 552-yard, three-touchdown effort in 2019 and an 831-yard, nine-touchdown effort last season.
Smith-Schuster returns to an offense that will again be helmed by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who agreed to take a pay cut to play his 18th season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers' offense struggled down the stretch after going 11-1 last season. Pittsburgh finished 12-4 and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Cleveland Browns.
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