Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster isn't one to lose sleep over contract negotiations.
The former USC Trojan is heading to the fifth and final year of his rookie deal in the upcoming season. Although he clearly wants an extension to remain with the team, he understands the current salary cap situation and is only focused on performing well on the field:
“At the end of the day, I’m just here to play ball,” Smith-Schuster said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. “I’m not going to be the kind of guy that sits out and waits, regardless if there’s a contract or not.”
“As of right now, I’m not worried about that,” he said. “It’s more so just playing ball. With everything going on right now, you never know what can happen. For me, I’d love to be a Steeler. But at the end of the day, I’m here to play ball and win games for the team and the organization.”
Smith-Schuster is not in a favorable situation as several of his fellow Steelers are also among the team's soon-to-be free agents. The list consists of outside linebacker Bud Dupree, running back James Conner, defensive tackle Cam Heyward, offensive tackles Al Villanueva and Matt Feiler.
The 2018 Pro Bowler will also get a hard time gaining leverage on future contract talks as he is coming off an unproductive year. In Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns, Smith-Schuster was knocked out after cornerback Greedy Williams delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit on him. He also sustained a knee injury from the Cleveland game.
Smith-Schuster finished the 2019 season with a career-low 552 yards and three touchdowns on 42 catches through 12 appearances. He will need to perform exceptionally well in the upcoming season in order to land the extension that he desires.
His productivity on the offensive side of the field will also be crucial as the Steelers will try to make it back to the playoffs after having a depleted roster last season.
Follow Us
Subscribe