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One may be capable of argue that JuJu Smith-Schuster was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ large addition to the receiving corps this offseason. Whereas he’s probably the most veteran of the group, having been right here for the previous 4 years, it appeared to so many a foregone conclusion he can be gone in free company that it’s virtually like a brand new signing provided that they have been capable of carry him again.
That’s not exactly the best way second-year extensive receiver Chase Claypool phrased it in chatting with reporters earlier this afternoon following OTA practices, however it’s clear in his remarks that his teammates have been like all people else, assuming that Smith-Schuster was nearly as good as gone.
“Lots of people have been anticipating him to not come again, not as a result of he didn’t need to, however due to the cap house scenario”, he mentioned. “All of us knew he actually wished to return again. We simply didn’t know if it was attainable. So when he got here again, I used to be excited, as a result of not solely is he pal, participant, only a good teammate, too. He does quite a bit for us. All the time good to have a man like that within the constructing”.
A second-round choose in 2017, Smith-Schuster has recorded 308 catches throughout his 4 years, for 3,726 yards and 26 touchdowns. He made the Professional Bowl in 2018 with a 111-catch, 1,426-yard, 7-touchdown marketing campaign, and he had a career-high 9 touchdowns final yr on 97 receptions.
The free company market was tough for nearly all people this offseason, nonetheless, because the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental impact on the league’s economics. Somewhat than the wage cap rising $10 million or so, it dropped about $15 million from the earlier yr, primarily a $25 million swing from the place groups in all probability anticipated to be.
Because of this, many veteran gamers opted to signal one-year contracts with the hopes of circling again and hitting free company once more subsequent yr with extra success. Smith-Schuster is amongst these gamers, and he could have the chance to play out his second contract yr in the identical setting he’s identified all through his skilled profession.
Although he’s probably the most senior of receivers within the room, Smith-Schuster stays among the many youngest of those that have NFL expertise. Solely Claypool, drafted final yr, is youthful. James Washington and Diontae Johnson, drafted in 2018 and 2019 respectively, are each barely older.
Smith-Schuster won’t flip 25 till late in his fifth season this yr, throughout which he appears to hope that he’ll be spending extra time taking part in an out of doors receiver function as the remainder of the group share obligations lining up within the slot.
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