Former Chiefs WR Juju Smith-Schuster, who led Chiefs WRs in yards in 2022 en route to a Super Bowl, is reportedly on the verge of being cut by the Patriots following a disappointing 2023 campaign. Given the Chiefs' problems at the position, could a reunion be in the works?
The 2017 second-round pick was named New England's top cut candidate by Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, with former Patriots WR Chris Hogan predicting Smith-Schuster won't make the roster.
He caught only 29 passes in 11 games while battling a knee injury, though Smith-Schuster was a critical member of Kansas City's offense the year prior. Does JuJu still have some juice?
Former Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster Top Cut Candidate for Patriots
Smith-Schuster caught 78 passes for 933 yards and three TDs in his lone season with the Chiefs as Patrick Mahomes had a 102.3 passer rating when targeting him. If Smith-Schuster is healthy, he'd be a valuable addition to the roster. That's a pretty big "if" though, unfortunately.
"He's only a season removed from being a critical piece of a championship-winning offense too, having put up 933 yards (the second-most of his career) and three scores on 78 catches in 2022," Kay writes. "While it's unlikely he'll return to the Pro Bowl form he displayed for the Pittsburgh Steelers in his sophomore season, a healthy Smith-Schuster could still be a major asset for plenty of teams as a high-end No. 3 wideout."
There are a few factors to consider here aside from Smith-Schuster's health. He plays a similar style to Rashee Rice, so perhaps he could be a fill-in if Rice finds himself suspended as expected. However, the Chiefs are already dealing with stiff competition at the position, especially with the rise of Nikko Remigio.
Adding Smith-Schuster into the mix would complicate matters further, and his role could become redundant once Rice returns.
What Kansas City truly needs at receiver is stability and consistency. Smith-Schuster's shaky knees prevent him from confidently giving you those two qualities. He was tremendous in his lone season with the Chiefs but I'd prefer we let the past stay the past. I wish Smith-Schuster the best, though I don't think Brett Veach should bring him back for a three-peat.
If the organization feels comfortable with his knees? That's a different story, as a healthy JuJu could make Kansas City's offense unstoppable. We'll see what the Patriots decide to do, though I'd bet he'd love to catch passes from Mahomes again.
