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Mar. 19—Be part of the dialog
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting their high free agent broad receiver again within the fold, however they might be dropping one in all their high cornerbacks.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is returning to the Steelers on a one-year, $8 million contract after failing to land a lengthier deal earlier in free company. ESPN additionally reported that cornerback Steve Nelson, who’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his three-year contract, has been given permission to hunt a commerce.
Smith-Schuster’s contract, in keeping with ESPN, features a $1 million base wage, a $7 million signing bonus and 4 voidable years that reduces his cap hit to $2.4 million for 2021.
The Steelers entered Friday about $4 million below the wage cap, in keeping with spotra.com.
Smith-Schuster, 24, entered free company as one of many high broad receivers in the marketplace. However he remained on the sidelines as wideouts akin to Corey Davis, Curtis Samuel and Nelson Agholor obtained multi-year contracts in extra of $10 million yearly.
Three days into free company, Smith-Schuster elected to return to the Steelers for a fifth season, reportedly spurning extra money from the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. The Philadelphia Eagles additionally reportedly made a suggestion.
NFL Community reported that the Ravens provided a $9 million deal, plus $4 million in incentives. However Smith-Schuster turned down the prospect to play with a pair of former MVPs — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes — to return to the Steelers.
“Cannot say it sufficient, I really like you Pittsburgh,” Smith-Schuster wrote on his verified Twitter account. “Got here in right here a younger 20 12 months outdated and also you guys embraced me from the second I obtained right here. A lot love. Had my again through every part, all of the struggles and success. So exhausting to depart. See you this Fall in Heinz WE’RE GOIN CRAZY!!!
Smith-Schuster is not the primary participant to take a lesser deal to stick with the Steelers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took a $5 million pay reduce with a purpose to return for an 18th season.
In 4 seasons with the Steelers, Smith-Schuster has caught 309 passes for 3,726 yards and 26 touchdowns. In 2020, he caught 97 passes for 831 yards, a career-low 8.6 common per receptions, and 9 touchdowns.
Smith-Schuster’s greatest season was in 2018 when he was named group MVP after catching 111 passes for 1,426 yards and 7 touchdowns. His numbers dropped, nevertheless, after Antonio Brown was traded after that season.
Nelson, 28, is scheduled rely $14.42 million in opposition to the wage cap. The Steelers have veteran Joe Haden coming into the ultimate season of his contract, they usually stored versatile Cam Sutton from free company with a two-year, $9 million contract.
Buying and selling Nelson — or granting his launch — would free his $8.25 million base wage from the books.
Nelson began 30 video games in his first two seasons with the Steelers, totaling three interceptions and 17 move breakups. He had 48 tackles in 2020 after getting 61 within the earlier season.
The Steelers signed Nelson, who spent his first 4 years with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, to a three-year, $25.5 million deal in 2019
Sutton, who largely performed inside in subpackages in his first 4 seasons with the Steelers, might shift outdoors and exchange Nelson. The Steelers even have former third-round draft choose Justin Layne and undrafted free agent James Pierre at cornerback after dropping slot nook Mike Hilton to free company.
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Evaluate workers author. You may contact Joe by e mail at jrutter@triblive.com or by way of Twitter .
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