Jerod Mayo explains Patriots releasing JuJu Smith-Schuster originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
JuJu Smith-Schuster was the New England Patriots’ highest-paid wide receiver entering training camp, but the team decided to cut him anyway last week.
Smith-Schuster wasn’t among the top wideouts early in training camp, and he hasn’t been the most durable player since signing a three-year deal with the Patriots as a free agent last year.
The Patriots have a fairly full wide receiver room and with Smith-Schuster gone, some of the team’s younger players at the position could get a better chance to impress.
That was one of the statements Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo gave on Sunday when asked about firing Smith-Schuster.
“It was a decision between Eliot (Wolf) and myself, to really give the younger guys the opportunity to get more reps and show what they can do,” Mayo told reporters.
The Patriots have a lot of young wide receivers with great potential.
Two notable examples are 2024 second-round draft pick Ja’Lynn Polk and fourth-round draft pick Javon Baker. Second-year wideout DeMario “Pop” Douglas is arguably the team’s best target in the passing attack. Another 2023 draft pick, Kayshon Boutte, has played well in camp and impressed in the first preseason game.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see some of these young wide receivers play larger roles in the next two exhibition games, starting with Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith-Schuster played just 11 games for the Patriots last season, recording 29 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown. That kind of production was disappointing, especially considering Jakobi Meyers — whom the Patriots declined to re-sign — recorded 71 receptions for 807 yards and eight touchdowns for the Las Vegas Raiders.
By releasing Smith-Schuster at this stage of training camp and preseason, he can also sign with a new team and get acclimated to that group before the regular season begins in about a month.
“We just want him to get healthy,” Mayo said. “He’s still got a good ball in him, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
