The Chiefs are bringing back a familiar face as they continue to revamp their receiving corps ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
That would be JuJu Smith-Schuster. Kansas City is signing the veteran wide-out just over two weeks after his release from the Patriots, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero .
Smith-Schuster spent the 2022 NFL season with the Chiefs after he spent the first four seasons of his career with the Steelers. He racked up 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns in Kansas City and finished the season as the team's second-leading receiver behind only Travis Kelce.
While Smith-Schuster wasn't the same, dynamic weapon he was during his early days in Pittsburgh, he still provided Patrick Mahomes with a solid, reliable target. His struggles in New England may not instill much confidence that he can regain his 2018 form, but he will still play a key role in Kansas City as the team adds depth to its receiving corps.
Here's what to know about the Chiefs' wide receiver depth chart and where Smith-Schuster may fit within it.
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Chiefs WR depth chart
Starters
- Rashee Rice
- Hollywood Brown
- Xavier Worthy
Kansas City re-signing Smith-Schuster doesn't seem likely to impact the team's plan for its starters. Rice still figures to be a No. 1 threat from the slot while Brown and Worthy provide threatening, downfield speed on the outside.
That said, all three receivers enter the 2024 season with potential pitfalls. Rice will likely face a suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy; it's just a matter of whether that punishment will be levied in 2024 or during the 2025 offseason.
Meanwhile, Brown is dealing with a sternoclavicular injury that has thrown his Week 1 status into question. If he can't play, the Chiefs would probably like to start an experienced wide-out next to Worthy, who has sky-high potential but is still a rookie.
If any of these players miss time or struggle, Smith-Schuster could end up drawing into the lineup. He'll have to compete with some other veterans for playing time, however.
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Top backups
- JuJu Smith-Schuster
- Justin Watson
- Mecole Hardman
Smith-Schuster, Watson and Hardman figure to be the top backup receivers on Kansas City's roster, but each will play a different role with the team.
Smith-Schuster's most natural position is in the slot, so the Chiefs seemingly signed him as insurance in case Rice misses time. He may still get on the field on occasion if the Chiefs want to move Rice out wide, but at best, Smith-Schuster is probably the No. 4 receiver.
Watson and Hardman both have good speed, so they will probably back up Brown and Worthy respectively. That could allow them to see more playing time than Smith-Schuster, especially if Brown's injury is more severe than initially anticipated.
Several other roster candidates could challenge Watson or Hardman for a spot on the depth chart, but given their multi-year histories with the Chiefs, they appear to be on the inside of the roster bubble for now.
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Potential roster candidates, practice squad players
- Kadarius Toney
- Skyy Moore
- Nikko Remigio
- Justyn Ross
- Cornell Powell
The Chiefs have plenty of potential-packed receivers who could make the 53-man roster if Kansas City decides to keep seven wide-outs. That said, these players would more likely need Brown to be placed on short-term IR to make it to Week 1 as a part of the Chiefs' receiver room.
Toney was a first-round pick by the Giants in 2021 and has great speed, but he hasn't found consistent success in the NFL. The Chiefs gave him plenty of opportunities in 2023, but he struggled with drops and was ultimately fell behind Hardman on the depth chart. He likely remains there.
Moore was a second-round pick by the Chiefs in 2022, but he hasn't become the dynamic slot weapon the team hoped. He could still crack the roster if Andy Reid is worried about a Rice suspension, but more likely, the 5-10, 195-pound playmaker will look for a change of scenery after logging 43 catches, 494 yards and a touchdown across his first two seasons.
The other three receivers listed all have potential too. Remigio has looked like a threatening return man and spent the 2023 season on Kansas City's practice squad. Ross was once considered a first-round talent before a spine fusion surgery scared teams off. He has a 6-4, 210-pound frame that could make him a red-zone threat.
Powell may have the toughest time cracking the roster, but he had six catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason. He could end up on the practice squad for a fourth consecutive season.
Likely cuts
- Montrell Washington
- Kyle Sheets
- Phillip Brooks
Washington spent part of the 2023 season on Kansas City's practice squad, so they may look to retain him again. Even so, he seems unlikely to make the 2024 roster given the veteran depth ahead of him.
The same can be said of Sheets and Brooks, two undrafted free agents who have a tough path to a role in the organization. Perhaps Kansas City liked what it saw enough to trust either player, but the addition of Smith-Schuster further complicates any path the two had to practice squad spots.
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