When JuJu Smith-Schuster re-signed with the Steelers, the flamboyant wideout said he couldn't imagine playing anywhere else. "This is my home," he tweeted. "They're gonna need a wrecking ball to take me outta here! PITTSBURGH I LOVE YOU, LET'S GO!!!!!"
But as it turns out, his celebratory tweet was just masking his disappointment.
In a recent interview with "PFT Live," Smith-Schuster said his first foray into free agency was the most stressful experience of his career. He apparently didn't garner much interest on the open market before returning to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal worth $8 million.
"I would probably say free agency was more nerve wracking than draft day," he told Mike Florio. "Everything this year did not play out to how I wanted it to be when I look back five, four years. It's a lot different. It's betting on myself, going with the team I've been with before, and going out trying to get paid again."
It's easy to understand why Smith-Schuster wasn't pleased with his free agency experience. While the market was depressed due to the contracted salary cap, numerous wideouts still received lucrative multi-year deals. Kenny Golladay, for example, inked a four-year, $72 million contract with the Giants.
Still, Smith-Schuster did seemingly have other options besides the Steelers. We know the Chiefs, Ravens and Eagles pursued him to various degrees. He reportedly turned more money from the Ravens, though specifics haven't been released. Presumably, it was not that much more money, and not a long-term commitment.
With that in mind, Smith-Schuster decided staying with the Steelers was the best way to set himself up for a future payday. It's a vote of confidence for Ben Roethlisberger and the operation, but also a nod to reality. It's a lot easier to come back when the money isn't flowing elsewhere.
