With free agency week underway, the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for what could be a tough week for not just them, but all of the NFL. Many teams are pressed against the cap, and are going to see some players walk away and sign with other teams. Pittsburgh is no exception to that, with multiple unrestricted free agents hitting the open market. One of the biggest names among them is wide receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Smith-Schuster, a fan favorite, has been the spectacle of the off-season free agent talks. Is he staying? Is he going? Well we may have just gotten our answer. While nothing official has been reported, there has been word floating around that he told teammates he is unlikely to return, as seen here per @MySportsUpdate:
#Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster has told teammates that he's likely to sign elsewhere in free agency, per @MikeGarafolo.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 15, 2021
Again, nothing is official, but on a day like today where things like this are coming out left and right about players heading to the market, often times they come to fruition. It doesn’t help that the Steelers are barely under the cap as is. Paying Smith-Schuster what he’s worth may be an issue for the team going forward.
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Feelings on Smith-Schuster have been divisive as of late, some fans want him to stay, some want him gone. Regardless of how they all feel, his productivity cannot be denied. Through his four seasons with the team, he has 308 catches for 3,726 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was also plagued by injuries in the 2019 season, without HOF quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018.
Smith-Schuster has gone on record saying he wants his legacy to remain in Pittsburgh, but we all know money talks. One could not blame him for doing what’s best for him and his family.
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If this is it, we wish him all the best. It’s been a hell of a run, and we know any team will benefit from having him in their locker room. Whether it’s the Steelers or another team, we wish him nothing but continued success.
Where do you think Smith-Schuster will land, Steeler Nation? Is this it? Does he re-sign? Do you want him back? Let us know in the comment section below or on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
UPDATE: Smith-Schuster shut down these rumors by signing with Pittsburgh on a 1 year $8M dollar deal
#SteelerNation
