Patriots releasing JuJu Smith-Schuster just one year into a three-year, $25.5 million deal, per report

The New England Patriots are moving on from their most notable free-agent signing of the 2023 offseason. According to NFL Media, the Patriots will release veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. 

Smith-Schuster signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract with the Patriots just last offseason, with the Pats apparently choosing him over retaining Jakobi Meyers, who left for a similar deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Smith-Schuster’s release saves the Patriots just $647,059 against the cap, according to Over the Cap, and he will carry a dead-money charge of $2.63 million in 2025 as well.

Smith-Schuster’s only season in New England was marred by injuries from the jump, playing in just 11 games and logging a 65% snaps rate, the lowest of his NFL career. 

The veteran wideout had previously spent five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and one with the Kansas City Chiefs. His breakout 2018 campaign wherein he recorded 111 catches fort 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns ended up being the high-water mark of his career to date, as he has since struggled with injuries and bouts of inconsistency.

The Pats will move forward with Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker as their primary wide receivers — unless they re-enter the mix in the ever-evolving Brandon Aiyuk trade sweepstakes.