In a not-so-surprising move, the New England Patriots are reportedly releasing former Pro Bowl wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news on Friday.
Smith-Schuster signed with the team in 2023 with expectations that he’d serve as an upgrade over former Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers. However, the move ended up being a massive miscalculation by former coach Bill Belichick.
While Meyers continued to produce with his new team in Las Vegas, Smith-Schuster’s run in New England was an absolute train wreck. Injuries robbed him of his explosive talent, and he clearly wasn’t the same player anymore.
In 11 game appearances, he only hauled in 29 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown.
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
The Patriots are choosing to eat nearly $10 million in dead money by cutting Smith-Schuster.
It became obvious he wasn’t making the team after New England used a second and fourth-round draft pick on rookie wideouts Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. They also signed veteran K.J. Osborn in free agency.
With Kendrick Bourne and DeMario Douglas also in the mix, Smith-Schuster was simply the odd man out.
