JuJu Smith-Schuster’s time with the New England Patriots is over.
New England released the veteran receiver on Friday afternoon, according to multiple reports. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news, with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirming. The Patriots signed Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $33 million contract during the 2023 offseason.
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s Patriots Tenure Ends With Abrupt Release
Smith-Schuster was a long shot to make New England’s 53-man roster, but it’s mildly surprising to see him released just two weeks into training camp. The 27-year-old had been a non-factor in training camp and saw just 11 snaps with zero targets in Thursday’s preseason win over the Carolina Panthers.
The Patriots signed Smith-Schuster in 2023 hoping he’d be an upgrade over Jakobi Meyers, who joined the Las Vegas Raiders. But a lingering knee issue limited him to just 11 games and he finished the season with 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown.
In the spring, Smith-Schuster claimed his knee issues were behind him and he was ready to regain his vintage form. He doubled down last week, saying he still had “that dawg” in him. But his practice performance told a different story, as Smith-Schuster showed no burst, couldn’t separate from defensive backs, and struggled with drops.
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 will take a financial hit after releasing Smith-Schuster.
They’ll incur a $9.6 million dead cap hit with net savings of $647,000 in 2024, per Over the Cap. A $2.6 million dead cap hit also will be on the books in 2025, but the Patriots recoup $7.5 million in cap savings.
Either way, it’s a disappointing outcome for a player who never looked comfortable in Foxborough, Mass.
PFN Analysis: What Smith-Schuster’s Release Means for Patriots’ Receiver Room
Smith-Schuster’s departure simplifies the math for the Patriots as they look to fill their receiver depth chart.
Ja’Lynn Polk, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Javon Baker, and Kendrick Bourne are all roster locks. The Patriots typically carry five receivers on their initial 53-man roster, but they occasionally have rolled with six.
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That leaves one spot potentially up for grabs, though a second could open if Bourne, who’s rehabbing a torn ACL, opens the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
With Smith-Schuster not out of the picture, the Patriots have Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thornton, and Jalen Reagor battling for the final spot(s). And there are cases for all three making the roster.
Thornton, a 2022 second-round pick, was an injury-plagued disappointment in his first two seasons but has shown improvement this summer and remains the fastest receiver on the field.
Reagor is a smart, speedy option who adds value as an elite kick returner. Drops remain an issue, but he’s been one of the Patriots’ most consistent receivers since spring practices.
Boutte arguably has the lowest upside of the three, but he always practices well and could stick as a big-bodied possession receiver. The 2023 sixth-round pick also played well in the preseason opener.
Thornton would be the odd man out if we had to bet right now. But things could change over the next two weeks, and the competition is close.
The one thing we now know for certain: Smith-Schuster will be playing elsewhere.