The Chiefs inked the former Pittsburgh Steelers to a one-year deal on Friday.
After being quiet for most of the first week of the 2022 league year the Kansas City Chiefs signed 25-year-old free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year contract. Smith-Schuster announced the move on his Twitter page Friday afternoon.
The deal was reported to be worth up to $10.75 million for one year.
This move comes after a wild week of NFL free agency where the Chiefs saw divisional opponents and conference opponents make significant moves both in the free-agent market and the trade market.
This one-year deal feels like a prove-it deal from the Chiefs as well as for Smith-Schuster. At just 25 years old he has already spent five years in the NFL, has accumulated 3,855 receiving yards, 28 total touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2018.
The 2018 season was JuJu’s most productive, with him being the Steelers’ second option behind Antonio Brown, and is the only 1,000-yard receiving season of his career. The Steelers stuck with him after the fallout and trade of Brown, but he had not been able to recreate the same production. His quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was one of the worst in the NFL from 2019-to 2021. After playing just five games and one playoff game (against Kansas City), Smith-Schuster entered free agency for the second time of his career, this time coming to play for Kansas City.
This feels like a good fit, Smith-Schuster is young, talented, and has a skill set that matches what the Cheifs will want to do. The Chiefs have not had consistent wide receiver play behind Tyreek Hill for the last three seasons, but this should help open up other parts of the Chiefs game as well as for Patrick Mahomes who stands the most to gain by this. Another weapon in his arsenal, and another playmaker in the AFC West. This deal should be favorable for both parties.
