The Kansas City Chiefs added an important piece of their depth chart on Saturday as they re-signed wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster to a one-year contract.
Smith-Schuster originally left the Chiefs after they won Super Bowl 57 following the 2022 regular season. He joined the New England Patriots as a free agent, where he was released at the end of training camp.
After being released, Smith-Schuster, 28, rejoined Kansas City in late August. He ended up appearing in 14 games with eight starts, catching 18 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns in 2024. He then caught four passes for 76 yards in three postseason games.
Smith-Schuster tested the free agent market and saw there was very little movement for him. It was a safe bet to go to back to Andy Reid and the Chiefs, who always valued his services.
He is well liked in the locker room and has had no problems since he has been in the NFL. He is also the type of player who resolves disputes in the locker room and has earned the respect of his teammates.
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Perhaps the biggest thing he had going for him was Reid was comfortable with him in the offense. Reid is not one who likes change or to deviate from a certain plan. He has a comfort level with Smith-Schuster and also knows quarterback Patrick Mahomes can count on him in a pinch.
In eight seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chiefs, and Patriots, Smith-Schuster has 448 receptions for 5,279 yards with 32 TDs.
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This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 3:24 PM.