The New England Patriots made a surprising move this week by releasing veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Smith-Schuster only signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the franchise last year and still had $9.6 million in guaranteed money left on his deal. However, the Patriots were apparently ready to take the salary cap hit because Smith-Schuster wasn’t in the plans of the team’s new coaching staff fronted by Jerod Mayo.
New England also wanted to do right by Smith-Schuster, releasing him shortly after it became clear he had a long shot of making the roster. By doing this, they increased his chances of finding a new team and getting comfortable in the offensive system before the 2024 NFL season starts.
The Pats signed Smith-Schuster ahead of the 2023 NFL season, hoping he could emerge as a No. 1 wide receiver for struggling quarterback Mac Jones. However, Smith-Schuster ended up having a dreadful year, catching only 29 passes for 260 yards and a TD.
By releasing Smith-Schuster, New England is ensuring that its young WR core gets more snaps. The team drafted Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the 2024 NFL Draft while also having a second-year receiver in DeMario Douglas and a third-year receiver in Tyquan Thornton. The only veterans on the team are K.J. Osborn and Jalen Reagor, both entering their fifth seasons as pros.
