The New England Patriots added some JuJu to the receiver corps.
The Pats are expected to sign WR JuJu Smith-Schuster on a three-year, $33 million deal, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti reported, per sources informed of the deal.
Smith-Schuster's new contract has a base value of $25.5 million and includes $16 million in guaranteed money, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reports.
The pact helps New England cover for the loss of Jakobi Meyers, who agreed to a similar three-year, $33 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders this week.
The former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017 signed back-to-back one-year deals with Pittsburgh and Kansas City the past two offseasons. This time around Smith-Schuster gets more stability.
In 2022, JuJu signed an incentive-laden one-year deal with the Chiefs last offseason. In 16 regular-season games, the wideout generated 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns. He added 10 catches for 89 yards in K.C.'s Super Bowl run.
Rapoport added that the Chiefs attempted to re-sign the wideout, but New England offered more money and opportunity.
Smith-Schuster fills a much-needed hole on the Patriots roster, giving quarterback Mac Jones a reliable receiver target. He joins a New England receiver corps that currently has DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne atop the depth chart. Smith-Schuster's play style, including his willingness as a blocker, fits well in the Pats' scheme. How his off-field persona, including social media proclivity, fits in Foxboro is an interesting pairing.
