Friday, we found out that wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster will remain with the Pittsburgh Steelers for at least one more season. We also found out on Friday that Smith-Schuster probably came really close to becoming a member of the Baltimore Ravens for 2021.
The Ravens reportedly went all out in attempting to recruit Smith-Schuster these last several days to start the new league year and the Steelers wide receiver revealed as much on Twitter Friday via a response to Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson also did his best to recruit Smith-Schuster to Baltimore as well.
According to several Friday morning reports, the Ravens offered Smith-Schuster up to $13 million for 2021 to sign with them. $4 million or so of that he reportedly could have earned via incentives, however. The Steelers are reportedly going to pay Smith-Schuster just $8 million for 2021 and with four extra years tacked on as voidable ones to keep his cap charge low this season.
Could you imagine if Smith-Schuster had taken the Ravens offer? Seeing him in a Ravens uniform twice in 2021 would have been a tough chore for sure. I would imagine there would be a lot of Smith-Schuster Steelers jerseys burnt to a crisp by now as well.
In the end, all is well that ends well. Smith-Schuster shunned the Ravens to stay with the Steelers and he left money on the table in Baltimore to do just that. I bet Humphrey can’t wait now to face Smith-Schuster in 2021 and remind him about him not returning his offseason direct message recruitment attempt.
