JuJu Smith-Schuster Release Amplified Terrible Patriots Decision

The Patriots had an important decision to make ahead of their all-important 2023 season.

New England had an opportunity to re-sign Jakobi Meyers, a wide receiver who went from undrafted free agent to sure-handed target in Foxboro, Mass. Not only had Meyers proven himself as a more-than-capable NFL wideout with the Patriots, but he was one of the very few pass-catchers in New England who developed legitimate chemistry with inconsistent quarterback Mac Jones.

Meyers hit the open market the same offseason as JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was coming off a Super Bowl-winning season with the Chiefs. While Smith-Schuster impressed in his lone campaign with Kansas City, the bounce-back season was put together after an injury-plagued final go-around with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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On the surface, the decision between Meyers and Smith-Schuster seemed like a no-brainer, right? Meyers was a homegrown talent who did everything asked of him, produced at a high level, wanted to stay in New England and wasn't bogged down by an injury history. Smith-Schuster, although he was a Pro-Bowler in 2018, was a roll of the dice.

For whatever reason, the Patriots chose to gamble. New England "didn't budge" with its offer to Meyers, who latched on with Las Vegas. And according to the receiver himself, the Raiders' offer only was $1 million richer than what the Patriots brought to the table.

Bill Belichick and company instead used money allocated for receivers on Smith-Schuster, who received a three-year, $25.5 million pact with $16 million. New England almost immediately came to regret the deal, as the 27-year-old only caught 29 passes for 260 yards with one touchdown last season. Meyers, meanwhile, caught 71 balls for 807 yards with eight touchdowns, which matched the TD output across his four-year Patriots tenure.

There was room for excuses for Smith-Schuster, though. New England's Jones-led offense was dysfunctional in 2023 and the team as a whole was thrust into chaos with Belichick staring down his exit. Both Jones and Belichick were shown the door in January, which theoretically signaled a chance for Smith-Schuster to rebound under a new regime.

Or so we thought. The USC product, despite his persistent claims, didn't seem very healthy in his second Patriots training camp. Smith-Schuster started to freefall down the wide receiver depth chart and ultimately was released by the team Friday. It wasn't a clean break either, as New England will be on the hook for nearly $10 million in dead salary cap space.

There's some irony at play in this situation. Jerod Mayo and company established a new norm this offseason by rewarding deserving homegrown talents with new contracts. Had Meyers been a free agent this year instead of last, it feels safe to assume the Patriots would have worked something out with the trusted target.

But the old regime didn't see the vision, and New England now will have to continue watching Meyers produce in Las Vegas while it works with a receiving corps that lacks high-end talent.