Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is expected to return to the Kansas City Chiefs, reports say NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Smith-Schuster played the 2022-23 season with Kansas City, appearing in 16 games (14 starts) and catching 78 passes for 933 yards with three touchdowns. In the postseason, he had 10 receptions for 89 yards as the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII.
The seven-year veteran adds experience to a relatively young Chiefs receiving corps led by Rashee Rice, free agent Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy. Smith-Schuster will look to stand out among Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney on Kansas City’s roster.
However, Rice faces a possible suspension for his involvement in a multi-car crash in Dallas in April, while Brown is recovering from a separated shoulder suffered in the Chiefs’ first preseason game.
After signing a three-year, $25.5 million contract with the New England Patriots in free agency, Smith-Schuster played in 11 games (seven starts). He had 29 receptions for 260 yards and a touchdown, production that was not expected with that contract. The Patriots released him in early August.
Patriots reporters note that the team essentially chose Smith-Schuster over Jakobi Meyers with the free agent contract, a trade that backfired. Meyers went to the Las Vegas Raiders and caught 71 passes for 807 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
Having played seven seasons in the NFL, Smith-Schuster will likely sign for a minimum of veteran of $1.21 million with the Patriots forced to pay the remaining $7 million owed to him for this season, According to Spotrac.
During his NFL career, Smith-Schuster has made 430 receptions for 5,048 yards and 30 touchdowns, averaging 11.7 yards per reception. He played his first five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of USC.
