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Pittsburgh Steelers vast receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is because of hit free company this offseason. Ought to the crew resolve to use the franchise tag to him, it’s anticipated to value them at the very least $16m
By Discipline Stage Media
Final Up to date: 25/02/21 10:03am
Pittsburgh Steelers vast receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in motion towards the Indianapolis Colts final season (AP Picture/Gene J. Puskar)
As free company approaches, Steelers vast receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster says he needs to remain in Pittsburgh.
Whether or not the Steelers give him the choice, or make the choice for him with the franchise tag, continues to be to be decided.
In a messy wage cap scenario that features a veritable “I-O-U” to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger within the type of a large pay reduce, the Steelers are dealing with lengthy odds to maintain their roster intact.
Smith-Schuster, 24, may very well be given the franchise tag however the Steelers have to be beneath the working threshold of the projected $180m wage cap for 2021.
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The franchise tag would value the Steelers at the very least $16m based mostly on projections the NFL is utilizing for position-specific tags. The deadline to make use of the tag is March 9, which is days earlier than the official begin of free company March 17.
“Till I really get let go, apart from that, I am Pittsburgh for all times,” Smith-Schuster instructed TMZ.
“To be dwelling near household could be cool, however on the finish of the day, I need to have my legacy in Pittsburgh and retire there. I do not need to depart.”
The Steelers won’t probably be capable to provide the type of “lifetime” contract Smith-Schuster needs. With the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions rumored to be close to the entrance of the road of bidders for the vast receiver subsequent month, Pittsburgh would possibly try to make use of the franchise tag as a negotiating software to ask commerce provides.
The crew has a protracted historical past of success drafting vast receivers within the second spherical and past beneath crew president Kevin Colbert. Smith-Schuster was the 62nd decide within the 2017 NFL Draft.
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However the Steelers developed potential replacements in Diontae Johnson, a third-round decide in 2019, and two latest second-rounders: Chase Claypool (2020) and James Washington (2018).
If the Steelers used the franchise tag and obtained a late first-round decide in return for Smith-Schuster, a four-year deal for that participant would probably be lower than the one-year franchise worth ($16m).
For instance, the Vikings drafted LSU vast receiver Justin Jefferson twenty second total in 2020. His four-year, $13.12m contract – which incorporates a normal fifth-year possibility for NFL first-rounders – seems like a relative discount when in comparison with free agent offers.
The Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have curiosity in Smith-Schuster. Their prime vast receivers are scheduled to turn out to be free brokers, however Allen Robinson (Bears) and Chris Godwin (Buccaneers) are additionally tag candidates.
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