Patriots sign JuJu Smith-Schuster to 3-year deal
What it means:
Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster signed a three-year contract with the New England Patriots on Wednesday.
Smith-Schuster signed a three-year deal worth up to $33 million. His arrival comes one day after Jakobi Meyers left New England to join the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year deal also worth $33 million. Smith-Schuster joins a Patriots offense currently lacking established targets, with Meyers, who led the team in targets (96), receiving yards (804), and touchdown catches (6), now in Las Vegas. The 26-year-old will enter his seventh NFL season in 2023, playing for his third team in as many years after leaving the Steelers in 2021 and winning a Super Bowl with the Kanas City Chiefs last season.
In 16 games played for the Chiefs last season, Smith-Schuster caught 78 of 101 targets for 933 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 101 targets, 78 catches, and 933 yards ranked second on the team behind only Travis Kelce.
The Patriots and Smith-Schuster agreed to terms on a contract Wednesday, NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti reports.
What it means:
Smith-Schuster tried to rehab his career in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes last season but underwhelmed to a degree with just 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns as the Chiefs' No. 1 receiver. He largely disappeared over the final month of the season and into the playoffs. JuJu will now head to Foxboro to replace Jakobi Meyers as Mac Jones' current top wideout.
Smith-Schuster recorded seven catches on nine targets for 53 yards in Sunday's 38-35 Super Bowl win over the Eagles.
What it means:
Smith-Schuster entered the game with only three targets across the Chiefs' first two postseason games. After recording just five yards in the first half of the Super Bowl, Smith-Schuster played a significant role in Kansas City's comeback victory with several catches of 13 and 14 yards that kept drives alive. He'll hit free agency for the third consecutive offseason, so it's unclear whether Smith-Schuster will have the chance to remain with Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs' dynamic offense.
Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Wednesday.
What it means:
Smith-Schuster was held out of on-field work last week due to swelling in his left knee before he was listed as questionable for Super Bowl LVII. Now with an uninhibited session under his belt this week, he's on pace to be available to Kansas City's offense Sunday against the Eagles. Questions remain in the Chiefs' receiving corps, though, after Mecole Hardman (pelvis) was placed on injured reserve Monday and Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) was a limited participant Wednesday. At the moment, Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore are the healthy WRs on the team's active roster.
Kansas City's JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) fully participates in Wednesday's practice
What it means:
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Smith-Schuster appears on track to play in Super Bowl LVII after 26-year old registered a full session on Wednesday. In a matchup against an Eagles' defense allowing 25.2 FanDuel points per game to wideouts, our models project Smith-Schuster to score 7.2 FanDuel points.
Smith-Schuster's current projection includes 3.3 receptions for 40.2 yards on 4.9 targets.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced Monday and will likely do so again Tuesday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
What it means:
The Chiefs are holding light workouts for their two unofficial workouts to begin the week before moving on to a more intense practice session Wednesday, when the team will release its first official injury report for the second week of prep leading up to Super Bowl LVII. How Smith-Schuster is listed on Wednesday's report will be more telling with regard to where he stands in his recovery from the left knee injury, but he already appears to be in a better spot on the health front compared to where he was at last week. The Chiefs listed Smith-Schuster as a non-participant on each of the three injury reports they released last week and are tentatively tagging him as questionable for this Sunday's game against the Eagles.