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JuJu Smith-Schuster ended up re-signing with the Steelers on a one-year, $8 million deal after the wide receiver market was dry and not what many expected in free agency. It was a smart business decision for Smith-Schuster to re-sign with the Steelers and run it back one more year with Ben Roethlisberger and then hope to cash in next season with the Steelers or another team when the salary cap goes back up.
The Chiefs and Ravens reportedly offered more money to Smith-Schuster on a one-year deal, but he turned it down to stay in Pittsburgh. Smith-Schuster was on the "Michael Irvin Podcast" recently and said "it would've been K.C." if not Pittsburgh, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com.
Smith-Schuster also just couldn't stomach playing in the black and purple in Baltimore. It also wouldn't have been the best option career-wise being that the Ravens area run-first team.
"[Playing for a rival], too, and I'm curious to see how they're going to be this year having Sammy Watkins and how they're going to use him and throwing the ball and stuff like that," Smith-Schuster said of the Ravens. "Lamar [Jackson]'s a really, a heavy run offense with the backs that he has. I just, just point being facts. His No. 1 target was [Mark] Andrews, who's a tight end."
Smith-Schuster also said Andy Reid was recruiting him hard to come to Kansas City.
"Andy Reid was just calling me and he was sending me Lombardi Trophy pictures like constantly. We had a good talk, so it would've been K.C. after the Steelers. Like texted it to me while I was trying to make a decision and I have so much respect for him and his team."
Smith-Schuster will see Reid this year at Arrowhead Stadium, as the Steelers are scheduled to play the Chiefs.