Jerod Mayo explains why the Patriots released Smith-Schuster Originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
JuJu Smith-Schuster was the highest-paid wide receiver on the New England Patriots’ roster entering training camp, but the team still… He decided to release him last week.
Smith-Schuster wasn’t among the top wide receivers at the start of camp, nor has he been the most durable player since signing with the Patriots on a three-year contract in free agency last year.
The Patriots have a pretty stacked wide receiver room, and now that Smith-Schuster is gone, some of the team’s younger players at that position might have a better chance to impress.
That was one of the explanations Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo gave Sunday when asked about Smith-Schuster’s release.
“It was a decision between Eliot (Wolf) and I, really giving the younger guys a chance to go out and get more reps and show what they can do.” May told reporters.
The Patriots have a lot of young wide receivers who have exciting potential.
Two notable examples are 2024 second-round draft pick Ja’Lynn Polk and fourth-round pick Javon Baker. Second-year wide receiver DeMario “Pop” Douglas could be the team’s best target in the passing game. Another 2023 draft pick, Kayshon Boutte, has played well in camp and He had an impact in the first preseason game.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see some of these young wide receivers play a bigger role in the next two preseason matchups, starting with Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith-Schuster played in just 11 games for the Patriots last season and had 29 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown. That kind of production was pretty disappointing, especially considering that Jakobi Meyers (whom the Patriots decided not to re-sign) had 71 receptions for 807 yards and eight touchdowns for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Releasing Smith-Schuster at this stage of camp and the preseason will also allow him to sign with a new team and get acclimated to that group before the regular season begins in about a month.
“We just want him to get healthy,” Mayo said. “He still has a lot of play left in him and I wish him the best.”
