One of the Pittsburgh Steelers priority in-house free agents is wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster has been with the team since 2017 and has caught at least 97 passes twice in five seasons. According to ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler (VIA ESPN television), the Steelers are interested in pursuing a new contract with Smith-Schuster this offseason.
Smith-Schuster tested free agency last offseason as well before returning to Pittsburgh on a one-year contract. Smith-Schuster found the free-agent market to not be as robust as he expected perhaps and it’s hard to imagine things will be better this time around.
According to Fowler, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are also in the mix for Smith-Schuster’s services. Kansas City was actually one of the teams that wanted to sign Smith-Schuster last offseason before he chose to return to the Steelers.
Smith-Schuster lost much of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury, which meant he finished the year with just 15 receptions. However, Smith-Schuster showed a ton of fortitude and loyalty when he returned from injury to play in the Steelers playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He could have easily sat it out given the outcome was pretty predictable.
Will the Steelers sign Smith-Schuster back? Let us know your prediction in the comments below.
