With some potential query marks within the receiving corps for 2025, the Chiefs appear to have opted to maintain some acquainted faces within the room for Patrick Mahomes to throw to. To that finish, Kansas Metropolis will re-sign veteran wide receiver
JuJu Smith-Schuster for the 2025 season, per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports activities.
Since having a resurgent, Tremendous Bowl-winning season in 2022 with the Chiefs, Smith-Schuster has struggled to make an impression previously two seasons. Smith-Schuster’s rebound season got here after he solely performed 5 video games in his ultimate 12 months with Pittsburgh and noticed him document his second-highest profession receiving yards whole (933), although he solely registered three touchdowns.
Following his huge 12 months with Mahomes, Smith-Schuster cashed in, signing a three-year, $33M deal with the Patriots. Sadly, Smith-Schuster’s rebounded success didn’t carry over in New England, as he solely accrued 260 receiving yards and one landing in 11 video games. The group released him after just one season.
It didn’t take too lengthy for the Chiefs to pick up their old receiver for a second stint with the group, becoming a member of free agent addition Marquise Brown and rookie first-round choose Xavier Worthy as new additions within the wake of some Rashee Rice uncertainty. Regardless of accidents to each Brown and Rice, Smith-Schuster was unable to make the most of extra enjoying time, solely logging 231 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
Extra alternatives for targets might definitely be on the best way for Smith-Schuster in 2025, although. The Chiefs have already seen DeAndre Hopkins depart for Baltimore, and Mecole Hardman‘s contract with the group expired, as effectively. With these two gone, Smith-Schuster presumably slots in as WR4 behind Rice, Worthy, and Brown.
The aforementioned Rice uncertainty might open up much more alternatives for Smith-Schuster. Whereas Rice is recovering from a season-ending injury, the uncertainty really comes from two separate authorized incidents from the final offseason that would see suspensions levied on Rice. First, Rice was involved in a major accident that he was allegedly chargeable for earlier than leaving the scene, and second, Rice was beneath investigation for an alleged assault incident. The group was reportedly bracing for a suspension for Rice earlier than it was made identified that, if a suspension was coming, it wouldn’t occur in 2024. That might imply {that a} suspension continues to be imminent for the 2025 season, although.
The group additionally obtained a second scare when Worthy was arrested on a cost of assault in opposition to a household or family member by impeding their respiratory or circulation. Fortunately for Kansas Metropolis, Worthy was not charged after the case was declined following discussions with a number of witnesses and Worthy’s attorneys. The case was closed, and Worthy has seemingly averted any punishment in the meanwhile.
Nonetheless, amidst the authorized troubles of their two high huge receivers, the Chiefs opted to re-sign Brown, giving him one other probability to make an impression in Kansas Metropolis after lacking all however two video games recovering from shoulder surgery in 2024. Smith-Schuster, too, will return for the Chiefs in 2025 because the group pursues its third Tremendous Bowl victory in 4 years and its fourth look in as a few years within the huge recreation.
