After long being linked to one another, a deal has reportedly been made between the Chiefs and wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, he is signing a one-year, $10.75MM contract (Twitter link). NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo adds that the deal carries a base value of $3MM, with the remainder being available through incentives (Twitter link). 
The 25-year-old has spent his entire five-year career with the Steelers. A second round pick, he established himself as the ultimate compliment to Antonio Brown during his rookie season, posting 58 catches for 917 yards and seven touchdowns. He took a step further the following campaign, totalling 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and another seven scores. That production earned him a Pro Bowl nod.
He failed to match those totals in the proceeding three years, however. Taking on an increased role in Brown’s absence, he has still put up noteworthy totals, but has generated a reputation as being best suited to a secondary workload. He played in just five games in 2021, totalling 15 catches.
On Kansas City, he certainly won’t need to be the focal point of the offense. The team already has All-Pro pass catchers in Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, but they have made it clear adding a third piece to compliment them was a priority. The Chiefs were named as a serious contender for Smith-Schuster last offseason, who ultimately chose to remain in the Steel City on a one-year pact to play his way into a new, more lucrative deal.
While this contract is also only one year in length, it is still a raise compared to the $8MM he earned in 2021. With the likes of Allen Robinson, Davante Adams and Chris Godwin off the market, the USC product was one of the top remaining options at the position. Now, he will join a team long interested in acquiring him, and which is likely to remain a Super Bowl contender.
Really wanted him back. Nothing but respect for him after coming back for last year and returning to fight in the playoffs. Hope the best for him.
I’ll always respect him for that. Most guys wouldn’t have come back for that game, but he did. Gonna miss him, I wish him all the best
MaDDog Drama we don’t need
It would be nice to sign or draft a speedster at wide receiver now. It would be nice to sign Tyrann Matthieu too.
They don’t need another speedster. That’s what Hardman, Pringle, Robinson, and Gordon were. And they were all too inconsistent as the WR2.
A little of that is on Pat being slow to adjust his game and a little of that is Reid/Bienemy not adjusting the playcalling to the Cover 2 schemes defenses were running but they need guys who can do more than just run in a straight line. The passing game outside of Kelce and Hill was a lot of quick, gimmicky style of routes designed to try to get guys open in space. But they didn’t have anyone outside of those two who could go out, get a little technical with their route, and create seperation to win their one-on-ones.
Actually was referring to the Steelers but thanks
Can’t wait for the Tik Tok collabs with Jackson Mahomes.
Which local non-Caucasian pro athlete will Mark make his new whipping boy?
AFC West just keeps getting better. That division will be crazy this year.
As long as he’s able to run his route then look to see which way Mahomes is scrambling and head in that direction fluidly… he should be very successful.
There’s not many dirty players like Vontaz Burrfict. If at all but. I hope Juju won’t be remembered for his blocked on his a few years back. Granted it was one of the greatest blocks of all time. Hope he wins in KC.