[ad_1]
Ben Roethlisberger agreed to a contract restructure on Thursday that can clear $15 million in wage cap house. The information of the transition rapidly unfold on social media, the place it caught the eye of 1 JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Smith-Schuster, who has not been shy about his need to stay with the Steelers, reacted to the information whereas asking the Steelers to start talks about his personal expiring contract. Because it at the moment stands, Smith-Schuster’s present contract with the Steelers will expire March 17 at 4 p.m.
“Now let’s discuss,” Smith-Schuster wrote on Instagram in response to the information of Roethlisberger’s new contract.
The Steelers chief in receptions final season, Smith-Schuster is hoping to proceed his profession in Pittsburgh, the place he rapidly rose to stardom following his extremely profitable rookie season. Smith-Schuster’s on-field efficiency and infectious character has made him one of many NFL’s most recognizable faces. And whereas he’s anticipated to have a strong market in free company, Smith-Schuster would fairly lock one thing in with the Steelers than take a look at the market.
“On the finish of the day, I need to have my legacy in Pittsburgh and retire there,” Smith-Schuster recently told TMZ Sports. “I do not need to depart.”
In 4 seasons in Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster has caught 308 of 443 targets for 3,726 yards and 26 touchdowns. After a quick begin to his NFL profession, Smith-Schuster’s manufacturing has dipped over the previous two seasons. Roethlisberger’s season-ending damage in 2019 contributed to Smith-Schuster’s statistical drop-off that season. His function as a possession receiver inside the Steelers’ offense final season led to him averaging simply 8.6 yards per catch.
Among the many Steelers’ soon-to-be free brokers are three members of Pittsburgh’s 2017 draft class: Smith-Schuster, operating again James Conner and cornerback Cameron Sutton. When requested particularly about that draft class, common supervisor Kevin Colbert just lately stated that the group will proceed to have every day conversations about every of its free brokers main as much as March 17. One free agent that Colbert has particularly talked about is outdoors linebacker Bud Dupree, who had eight sacks by way of 11 video games final season earlier than sustaining a torn ACL. A former first-round choose, Dupree has recorded 19.5 sacks over his previous 27 video games.
“We’re by no means going to eradicate an excellent participant like Bud Dupree as a result of we do not know what Bud’s market is, and Bud would not know what his market is,” Colbert stated, via Jim Wexell of Steel City Insider. “I feel that is fairly frequent for not solely our free brokers however the entire free company group. Till we get a strong cap quantity, we do not know. We simply have to regulate and know that he may be a risk; he won’t be. Solely time will inform with that, however we would love to have the ability to preserve a Bud Dupree as a result of Bud’s a particular participant, however Bud and T.J. collectively are a particular group.”
Smith-Schuster would possible have to just accept lower than his projected market worth if he desires to stay in Pittsburgh. His present market worth is projected at $81 million over 5 years, according to Spotrac. However based mostly on his current feedback, it seems that Smith-Schuster can be prepared to make lower than market worth so as to stay with the Steelers. That is assuming that the Steelers are open to the potential for re-signing Smith-Schuster, as Pittsburgh has two different receivers — Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool — below contract for the subsequent two and three years, respectively.
“I do need to play for a crew that competes for the Super Bowl yearly,” Smith-Schuster informed the Yinzhers Podcast. “That is within the playoffs. Clearly, the Steelers are that. I do need to play for an excellent quarterback… . I do need to be paid an affordable value for what I am price.
“In all consideration, I might love to stick with the Steelers. I might love to stick with them, however as of proper now, we’re simply sort of up within the air, ready.”
[ad_2]
Source link
