Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. made a recruiting pitch to ex-Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Tuesday.
Smith-Schuster wrote "Sheesh !!!" in response to Pittman posting a photo of him at the first day of OTAs on Monday.
Pittman responded , "When you coming home OG?"
Pittman and Smith-Schuster were teammates at USC for one season in 2016.
Smith-Schuster, 29, is currently a free agent after spending the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs . In 14 games in 2024, Smith-Schuster had 18 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, he caught 33 passes for 345 yards and one touchdown.
The nine-year wide receiver began his NFL career as a second-round pick (No. 62 overall) by the Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Smith-Schuster played five years in Pittsburgh, during which he totaled 323 catches for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns. His best season came in 2018 when he had a career-high 111 receptions for 1,426 yards.
Following the 2021 season, Smith-Schuster signed a one-year deal worth a maximum of $10.75 million with the Chiefs. He proved to be worth the contract and then some after posting the second most receiving yards of his career (933) and helping Kansas City win Super Bowl LVII.
Smith-Schuster's 2022 campaign earned him the big payday he was looking for. In 2023, he signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the New England Patriots .
However, Smith-Schuster finished the year with just 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown through 11 games while dealing with injuries and the Patriots parted ways with him after just one season.
That's when the Chiefs came calling once again, signing him to yet another one-year deal , as they load up to make another run at a Super Bowl.
Given how the last two seasons panned out, it would be surprising if the Steelers kicked the tires on Smith-Schuster. He's had severe knee troubles, too. The Steelers drafted wide receiver Germie Bernard in the second round this year and receiver Roman Wilson in the third round in 2025, as well.
Smith-Schuster could be an option if injuries pile up or if Aaron Rodgers wants another veteran receiver, but as of now, it seems unlikely.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Michael Pittman Makes Recruiting Pitch to Former Steelers WR
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