Steelers re-sign WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, give CB Steve Nelson permission to seek trade

The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting their top free agent wide receiver back in the fold, but they could be losing one of their top cornerbacks.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is returning to the Steelers on a one-year, $8 million contract after failing to land a lengthier deal earlier in free agency. ESPN also reported that cornerback Steve Nelson, who is entering the final year of his three-year contract, has been given permission to seek a trade.

Smith-Schuster’s contract, according to ESPN, includes a $1 million base salary, a $7 million signing bonus and four voidable years that reduces his cap hit to $2.4 million for 2021.

The Steelers entered Friday about $4 million under the salary cap, according to spotra.com.

Smith-Schuster, 24, entered free agency as one of the top wide receivers on the market, but he remained on the sidelines as wideouts such as Corey Davis, Curtis Samuel and Nelson Agholor received multiyear contracts in excess of $10 million annually.

Three days into free agency, Smith-Schuster elected to return to the Steelers for a fifth season, reportedly spurning more money from the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. The Philadelphia Eagles also reportedly made an offer.

NFL Network reported the Ravens offered a $9 million deal, plus $4 million in incentives. But Smith-Schuster turned down the chance to play with a pair of former MVPs — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes — to return to the Steelers.

”Can’t say it enough, I love you Pittsburgh,” Smith-Schuster wrote on his verified Twitter account. “Came in here a young 20 year old and you guys embraced me from the moment I got here. So much love. Had my back thru everything, all the struggles and success. So hard to leave. See you this Fall in Heinz WE’RE GOIN CRAZY!!!”

Can’t say it enough, I love you Pittsburgh. Came in here a young 20 year old and you guys embraced me from the moment I got here. So much love. Had my back thru everything, all the struggles and success. So hard to leave. See you this Fall in Heinz WE’RE GOIN CRAZY!!!

— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) March 19, 2021

Smith-Schuster isn’t the first player to take a lesser deal to stay with the Steelers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took a $5 million pay cut in order to return for an 18th season.

In four seasons with the Steelers, Smith-Schuster has caught 309 passes for 3,726 yards and 26 touchdowns. In 2020, he caught 97 passes for 831 yards, a career-low 8.6 average per reception, and nine touchdowns.

Smith-Schuster’s best season was in 2018 when he was named team MVP after catching 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns. His numbers dropped, however, after Antonio Brown was traded after that season.

Nelson, 28, is scheduled count $14.42 million against the salary cap. The Steelers have veteran Joe Haden entering the final season of his contract, and they kept versatile Cam Sutton from free agency with a two-year, $9 million contract.

Trading Nelson — or granting his release — would free his $8.25 million base salary from the books.

Nelson started 30 games in his first two seasons with the Steelers, totaling three interceptions and 17 pass breakups. He had 48 tackles in 2020 after getting 61 in the previous season.

The Steelers signed Nelson, who spent his first four years with the Kansas City Chiefs, to a three-year, $25.5 million deal in 2019

Sutton, who mostly played inside in subpackages in his first four seasons with the Steelers, could shift outside and replace Nelson. The Steelers also have former third-round draft pick Justin Layne and undrafted free agent James Pierre at cornerback after losing slot corner Mike Hilton to free agency.