Folks, the Patriots did the unexpected, signing veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. According to NFL insiders Taylor Bisciotti and Ian Rapoport, JuJu Smith-Schuster will join the Patriots on a three-year deal worth $33M.
After Jakobi Meyers departed New England to sign with the Raiders on Tuesday, there was a glaring need at the wide receiver position. Numerous reports were published throughout Wednesday, reporting the Patriots were talking to multiple veteran receivers. JuJu was the Chiefs leading receiver in 2022 and eventually earned a Super Bowl ring with Kansas City. The former Steelers draft pick was second on the team in receiving yards (933), receptions (78), and targets (101).
The 26-year-old joined the NFL when the Steelers selected him in the 2017 NFL draft. Smith-Schuster would appear in 66 games for the Steelers before the Chiefs signed him in 2021. JuJu had a combined 88 receptions and three touchdowns, with 1,022 receiving yards in his tenure with the Chiefs. Although the receiver was injured during his 2021 campaign, he returned with an impactful 2022 season.
Smith-Schuster contract is nearly identical to the money Jakobi Meyers earned, as both players are signed for three years with $11M AAV. Many remember the poor contract the Patriots gave free agent Nelson Agholor, but many believe JuJu will provide more value than Agholor. The Patriots are still thin at the receiver position as JuJu will join Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, and Tyquan Thornton. Many around the league believe DeAndre Hopkins could be involved in a trade with the Patriots, but nothing is confirmed.
This is a developing story; follow along for updates.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
