NFL Trade Rumors: New England Patriots Release Wide Receiver Juju Smith-Schuster

The New England Patriots have admitted failure on a 2023 free agent splash. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are releasing Pro Bowl wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Juju Smith-Schuster one year after signing him to a three-year, $25.5 million contract.

Source: The #Patriots are releasing WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. While a surprise, this move does give Smith-Schuster the chance to sign somewhere before the season. pic.twitter.com/r4ydvyXcYC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2024

Per overthecap, the transaction comes with a brutal $12.27 million in dead money, meaning it will actually cost the Patriots cap space to part ways with Smith-Schuster. His $7 million salary in 2024 was fully guaranteed, but the Patriots are evidently eager to cut bait.

Smith-Schuster was once one of the league's most promising young wide receivers. After being drafted 62nd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, he accumulated an astounding 2343 receiving yards over his first 30 appearances, even earning a Pro Bowl appearance in 2018.

Injuries largely derailed Smith-Schuster's career in the ensuing years, but he bounced back in a major way on the 2022 Kansas City Chiefs, leading the eventual Super Bowl champions in receptions (78) and receiving yards (933).

Unfortunately, Smith-Schuster immediately proved himself a poor fit for the Patriots. He quickly tumbled down the depth chart in the early portion of the season and finished the year with career lows in receiving yards per game (23.6) and yards per target (5.5). The Patriots eventually finished tied for last in the league with a miserable 13.9 points per game, dealing a death blow to the Bill Belichick era in New England.

Smith-Schuster was only one of many problems on the Patriots offense last year, and he should still have value as a flier around the league, especially on a modest, incentive-laden deal. A reunion with the Chiefs could be a perfect fit, particularly given the uncertain future of second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice.