Report: JuJu Smith-Schuster took ‘significantly less money’ to re-sign with Steelers

Despite getting more lucrative contract offers, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster reportedly took much less money to stay with the team.

The 24-year-old Smith-Schuster reportedly received a larger offer from the rival Baltimore Ravens, but he instead chose to stay with the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

During Smith’s four seasons with the Steelers, he’s been a regular part of their passing attack.

He’s coming off a 2020 campaign in which he caught 97 passes for 831 yards and nine touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after a 2018 season in which he grabbed 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns.

However, Smith-Schuster’s production hasn’t come without some controversy. The wideout made a point of dancing on opposing teams’ logos last season.

Such actions reportedly led to his mother receiving death threats.

The Steelers recently agreed to bring veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back for another season after a disappointing end to their 2020 season.

After starting out with 11 straight wins, the Steelers dropped four of their last five regular season games before losing to the Cleveland Browns in the opening round of the playoffs.

Smith-Schuster’s passion for playing with the Steelers is clearly evident. With his new one-year deal, it will be interesting to see if that passion remains when free agency comes around next year.