The Juju Smith-Schuster Era is officially over in New England, as the team cut him following an uneventful debut during Thursday’s preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. Just one year after New England effectively chose him over Jakobi Meyers, the Patriots are starting over anew with a younger receiving core. Smith’s Schuster’s time with the Patriots was largely disappointing, as the wideout finished the 2023 season with just 29 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown.
Seeing as Smith-Schuster failed to establish himself on one of the worst receiver depth charts in football, this could be the end for the former second-round pick. However, he could earn one more opportunity on a cheap one-year deal. Even though they cut him, the Patriots must still pay Juju Smith-Schuster $7 million for the season. This means any other team could sign him for the veteran minimum, kick the tires, and see if anything’s left in his tank. While no major betting sites post odds on his next team, the Chiefs and Saints make the most sense as potential destinations.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is owed $7M fully guaranteed by the #Patriots this season, but they are cutting him regardless. Any new team that signs him will more than likely get him for the minimum. https://t.co/Lr4ZALdsfC
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 9, 2024
Chiefs, Saints Could Sign Juju Smith-Schuster After Unceremonious Cut
Smith-Schuster earned his $25 million deal after a successful stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, so it stands to reason the reigning Super Bowl champions could bring him back for another go. On paper, the Chiefs have all the offensive firepower they could need for the upcoming season. Travis Kelce is still great, Rashee Rice proved himself last year, and the new additions of Marquise Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy are ideal fits for this scheme. However, there are some red flags here.
The biggest concern comes from the unknown severity of the inevitable Rashee Rice suspension. The NFL has yet to announce any type of punishment, but everyone knows it’s coming. If Rice has to miss a sizable chunk of the season, someone will need to step up in this offense. Maybe Juju Smith-Schuster no longer has the burst from his younger days, but the recently cut Patriot has the trust of Patrick Mahomes. That’s more than guys like Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney can say, and that could justify one of the final spots on this roster. Seeing as he’ll cost next to nothing, the Chiefs might as well see if he can recapture his 2022 magic in a familiar environment.
Bargain Shopping Saints
As is always the case at this point of the season, the New Orleans Saints are strapped for cap space. While they have $10.7 million in 2024 cap, they’re over the projected 2025 number by $91 million. The Saints will restructure their way to cap compliance, but the fact remains that they can’t afford to take on a big contract. With this in mind, Juju Smith-Schuster could be the perfect signing to be the WR3 in this offense.
Chris Olave is a great do-everything receiver and Rashid Shaheed is a legitimate deep threat. However, New Orleans never found an adequate replacement for Michael Thomas, and they’ll need to get one soon. The Saints have one of the worst offensive lines in the league and won’t be able to find three starting-caliber options before the start of the season. What they could do, however, is sign someone like Smith-Schuster to get open quickly and take pressure off the offensive line. Perhaps Juju Smith-Schuster can’t handle this role, but he’s worth a roll of the dice when he only costs a veteran minimum contract.
Main Photo: Eric Canha – USA Today Sports
