Steelers sign Smith-Schuster, cut Blount
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed second-round pick Juju Smith-Schuster to a four-year deal.
Financial details were not released. The Steelers took the wide receiver out of Southern California with the 62nd overall selection in the draft. Smith-Schuster caught 213 passes for 3,092 yards with 25 touchdown catches in 40 games at USC. He is expected to fight for a starting spot alongside All-Pro Antonio Brown.
Smith-Schuster is the fifth of Pittsburgh’s eight picks to sign a contract. First-round pick T.J. Watt, third-round pick Cameron Sutton and fourth-rounder Josh Dobbs have yet to come to terms.
The Steelers also signed quarterback Bart Houston and wide receiver Canaan Severin Wednesday and released quarterback Nick Schuessler and linebacker Akil Blount. Blount, a Taylorstown native, is the son of Steelers Hall of Fame safety Mel Blount.
Akil Blount, the former Florida A&M star, signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent following the NFL draft last year but was cut Aug. 27.
The 22-year-old Blount was a mainstay in the Florida A&M defense and showed his athleticism last spring, when he ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at his on-campus workout.
Pittsburgh did not select an inside linebacker in the draft, so a roster spot appeared to be open at the position. Veteran Vince Williams will replace the departed Lawrence Timmons in the starting lineup next to Ryan Shazier. L.J. Fort, Steven Johnson and Tyler Matakevich also return.