The Baltimore Ravens haven’t signed the star wide receiver fans and analysts have practically been begging for this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is re-signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers after turning down a larger offer from the Ravens. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Ravens made a hard push to sign Schuster. This comes on the heels of a report that Baltimore has been showing interest in free-agent WR Kenny Golladay.
The Ravens have certainly seen enough of Smith-Schuster up close to know what he can do, having played against him twice a season since he was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. In eight games, Smith-Schuster has caught 38 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns.
One of the knocks against Smith-Schuster this offseason was his perceived inability to play on the outside; he got the bulk of his snaps from the slot in 2020. While he doesn’t have a ton of playing time on the outside, it’s something he’s done and excelled at in Pittsburgh. Regardless, Smith-Schuster has been a weapon for the Steelers, catching 308 passes for 3,726 yards and 26 touchdowns over 58 games.
