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According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Pittsburgh Steelers free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal to remain in Pittsburgh — but the Kansas City Chiefs were among the teams pitching to entice him away.
JuJu to the #Steelers on a 1-year worth $8M, source said. He had better offers from the #Ravens and the #Chiefs. But stays in PIT. https://t.co/Kz9aaR1srN
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2021
Jason La Canfora reported that Smith-Schuster turned down what could have much-richer offer from the Baltimore Ravens.
Ravens offer to JuJo was for $9.5M plus 3.5m incentives. Steelers deal is $8M for 1 year, no incentives. Lamar Jackson was recruiting JuJu I'm told. He opted to stay
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 19, 2021
NFL Network’s Taylor Bisciotti said that Chiefs’ offer also could have been a richer deal.
Sources tell me these were the other offers
— Taylor Bisciotti (@TaylorBisciotti) March 19, 2021
KC 8 mill with 3 mill incentives
Steelers 8 mill
Baltimore 9 mill 4 incentives
But apparently for Smith-Schuster, the motivation to remain in Pittsburgh was a bigger motivator than the money. It’s also possible that in the case of the Chiefs, he may have felt he would have been in the shadow behind tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill — and from his perspective, that might have been right. Whatever moves the Chiefs make before the season begins, those two will likely to continue get the lion’s share of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ throws.
So Kansas City’s search for a free-agent wideout continues.