The Kansas City Chiefs added former Pittsburgh Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency, marking their biggest offensive acquisition of the 2022 free agency period.
Our friends over at Touchdown Wire – Mark Schofield and Doug Farrar – have been handing out grades on various free agent signings across the league. They weren’t too high on the team’s addition of Justin Reid, but they seem to like the addition of Smith-Schuster a bit more. The move to add Smith-Schuster earned a solid B, primarily for his ability to be a reliable target for Patrick Mahomes on intermediate and deep routes.
Here’s what they had to say about Smith-Schuster:
“Injuries limited Smith-Schuster to just five games in 2021, and when he was on the field, Matt Canada’s “RPO In a Can” offense with Ben Roethlisberger on his last professional legs didn’t do much for him. Smith-Schuster has been a relative afterthought since his 111-catch, 1,426-yard season in 2018, and the Chiefs are betting low on the fact that he can add to their offense both in the slot and outside with a one-year, $3.25 million contract with $2.49 million guaranteed.
Smith-Schuster isn’t the league’s most exact route-runner, but he can get open downfield with his athleticism, and he can also work inside as a top slot receiver in the right offense. The assumption is that the Andy Reid/Eric Bieniemy offense, as orchestrated by one Patrick Mahomes, is that right offense.”
I tend Touchdown Wire is a little too low on this signing, just as they were with Reid. Beyond the absolute steal that is Smith-Schuster’s contract, the brings to the offense a lot of what the Chiefs were lacking in 2021. I wrote a bit about Smith-Schuster’s fit within the offense and there’s a lot to like about what he brings to the table.
There’s also the notable omission from Touchdown Wire on what he’ll do to help free-up other key players within the K.C. offense. Smith-Schuster is an excellent blocker.
Watch Juju from the slot. This is a big reason he plays in the slot and not outside. Huge value in the run game. pic.twitter.com/YqFhdf75w2
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) August 22, 2021
Smith-Schuster’s presence should help improve the effectiveness of the running game and the quick screens that Andy Reid loves to use so much. Guys like Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman should all be beneficiaries. If that happens there is no way this won’t be a home run addition for Kansas City.
