The New England Patriots probably want this one back, even though it might have sounded like a good idea at the time.
Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster underwhelmed to the tune of a career-low 23.6 receiving yards per game in 2023 after inking a three-year deal reportedly worth $25.5 million. Due to his extremely low output, Sports Illustrated ranked the 27-year-old pass-catcher as the eighth worst NFL free-agent acquisition of 2023.
Smith-Schuster was one of two receivers tabbed as a free-agent bust, joining New York Jets’ disappointment Allen Lazard who landed at No. 4 in the rankings.
A major red flag emerged in Week 1 when Smith-Schuster was not on the field for the two-minute drill in a 25-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was dropped from the starting lineup the following week, totaling 28 yards on five receptions off the bench in a setback to the Miami Dolphins.
A Week 5 concussion sidelined Smith-Schuster for the next two games. He returned in Week 8 but was hardly noticeable with one three-yard catch on one target against Miami.
His most-productive performance came in Week 14 when the former second-round pick victimized the team that drafted him, making four receptions for 90 yards in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. It turned out to be Smith-Schuster’s final appearance of the season as an ankle injury sidelined him the rest of the way.
Over an 11-game sample, Smith-Schuster earned 47 targets with 461 offensive snaps. Despite not making more than one reception in five of his eleven outings, he finished the season with 260 receiving yards and one touchdown on 29 grabs.
Smith-Schuster wasn’t even close to matching the output of Jakobi Meyers, who was signed as an expected enhancement and then signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. In 2023, Meyers surpassed the 800-yard receiving threshold for the third consecutive year. In spite of the head coach and starting quarterback switching during the season, Meyers caught 71 passes for 807 yards and eight touchdowns.
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