Patriots release WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

The New England Patriots released wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Friday. By being released now, the 27-year-old veteran will have time to look for another team before the start of the season. Smith-Schuster caught 29 passes for 260 yards and one score in 11 games (seven starts) in his lone season with New England in 2023. He was a second-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2017, made the Pro Bowl with the Steelers in 2018 during five seasons and won Super Bowl LVII with the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith-Schuster is entering the second season of a three-year, $25.5 million deal he signed with the Patriots after that Super Bowl win. He has 430 receptions for 5,048 yards and 30 touchdowns in 90 career games (72 starts) with the Steelers (2017-21), Chiefs (2022) and Patriots. New England's depth chart at wide receiver includes second-round rookie Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn, DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor. --Field Level Media