AUGUST 28: This second Smith-Schuster deal with Kansas City will be for the veteran minimum, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. As an eighth-year player, that checks out to $1.21MM. As expected, this is a one-year contract.
AUGUST 26: JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s tenure with the Patriots did not go to plan, but he will spend the 2024 campaign looking to rebuild his value with a familiar team. The veteran wideout is signing with the Chiefs, as first reported by veteran insider Jordan Schultz. 
Smith-Schuster spent the 2022 campaign in Kansas City after his five-year Steelers spell. His first Chiefs deal carried a value of $3.76MM on a one-year accord as he looked to earn a long-term investment on the open market the following season. The 27-year-old had the second most productive season of his career with Kansas City (78 catches, 933 yards), earning himself a payday from the Patriots.
Looking to add at the receiver spot, New England made a three-year, $25.5MM commitment to Smith-Schuster. Expectations were high for the former second-rounder, but he was dealing with a knee injury for much of the campaign. Playing at less than 100% – and as a member of one of the league’s least-productive offenses – he only managed a statline of only 29-260-1. That left Smith-Schuster as a cut candidate, and earlier this month the Patriots did indeed move on despite his 2024 base salary ($7MM) being fully guaranteed.
Kansas City’s latest Super Bowl win came in spite of inconsistent play at the receiver position, so it came as little surprise the team’s offseason was defined in large part by efforts at bolstering the position. Marquise Brown was added on a one-year deal in free agency, while Xavier Worthy was selected in the first round of the draft. Brown could be sidelined for the start of the season through injury, though, and uncertainty looms regarding a potential suspension being levied against Rashee Rice. Regardless of what happens on that front, Smith-Schuster will represent another, familiar option in the passing game.
Kadarius Toney – who has one year remaining on his rookie contract – is known to be on the Chiefs’ roster bubble. Reuniting with Smith-Schuster is certainly not a positive sign for his ability to avoid being cut or traded in the next two days, but it remains to be seen how Kansas City will proceed. For Smith-Schuster, meanwhile, another low-cost deal no doubt awaits him but he has the potential to again boost his market with a strong Chiefs campaign.
Can’t wait for this guy to catch the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl!
He’s toast
“Papa I’m home!!”
Bye bye Toney
Insurance policy for when Rashee Rice goes off to state pen.
Doubtful. Donte Stallworth literally killed a guy driving drunk and got like 30 days on manslaughter or something.
Stallworth got off light because it was ruled even a sober driver would have hit that guy (who ran out into the street).
Either Rice will be doing time or his lawyer will become a legend.
Hit the guy not kill the guy someone dies cause of your actions unless self defense you’re gonna face some sort of crime
This is more of a stability signing and Brown insurance.
Rice more than likely won’t face any kind of suspension this season. His court date isn’t until December and the league said they will wait until all the legal work has been concluded before they do anything. This is more of an insurance for Brown I think.
I know some people in the Pittsburgh media can’t tell the difference, but…
Are the Chiefs aware JuJu only has a TikTok and is not actually a convicted (or even indicted) felon?
KC pro scouting staff falling asleep at the wheel there…metaphorically. Not literally like the players or nepotistic coaching staff.
Didn’t the Steelers sign Cameron Sutton after Detroit released him for domestic violence and running from the police for a couple weeks? Wasn’t he also given 8 games and didn’t even attempt to appeal?
Exactly.
How did the Chiefs let him slip through their fingers? They get first dibs on criminals.
Thanks KC.
Signed, Steeler fan
I don’t have anything against JuJu the person, but I’m pretty convinced that he’s washed up, not fully healthy, or both
I don’t understand this comment. Why are you thanking KC? And for what? JuJu hasn’t been a Steeler in ages.
Many Yinzers seemed to want the Steelers to bring back Juju because the Steelers are so short of depth there.
I appreciate that clarification. This makes sense. A one year deal isn’t so bad, but I wouldn’t have wanted him either.
My mistake in the first place, I wasn’t clear.
He was toast last year
I’m still not convinced the passing game won’t go through Kelce anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Are the Chiefs allowed to make someone else the primary receiver without first consulting Taylor Swift?
She’s the primary receiver of other things 😉
His knee is junk! He couldn’t win a job here in New England with the lack of quality receivers we have here. so good luck
It sure doesn’t take much to rile up the Chief-haters.
That would be pretty funny if JuJu made a second comeback with the Chiefs
He won’t
He might be able to outperform Kadarius Toney
Everyone commenting that Juju’s washed, well, maybe, but he’s only 18 months removed from a 900+ yard campaign with KC and a Super Bowl win… as their 2nd passing target.
He’s now essentially their 5th option (!) behind Kelce, Rice (who should be in jail & suspended), Xavier Worthy, and Hollywood Brown.
Early last season their 3 starting receivers were Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and MVS. And those mf’s still won another Super Bowl with that sorry-ass group.
As a fan of a rival AFC West team, I just don’t even want to watch football this year. Maybe just NCAA. Seriously. This 6 year run of them in back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back AFC Championship games isn’t fun to watch for 31 other team’s fans.
He’s not what he once was no doubt but with the Mahomes factor he’ll provide some depth. Worthy will be the big upgrade but at least he’s a depth receiver who can actually run a route and catch a football. Its a small upgrade but an upgrade