It may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but the New England Patriots likely want this one back.
After signing a three-year contract reportedly worth $25.5 million, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster grossly underperformed to the tune of a career-low 23.6 receiving yards per game in 2023. Smith-Schuster's production was so puny, it earned the 27-year-old pass-catcher the No. 8 spot on Sports Illustrated's list of "12 worst NFL free-agent signings 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.
Totaling 461 snaps on offense, Smith-Schuster earned 47 targets over an 11-game sample. Finishing the season with 260 receiving yards and one touchdown on 29 receptions, he failed to make multiple catches in five of 11 appearances.
Signed as an expected upgrade over Jakobi Meyers, who went to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, Smith-Schuster wasn't close to matching his predecessor's production. Meyers exceeded the 800-yard receiving mark for the third straight season in 2023. Despite in-season changes to the starting quarterback and head coach, Meyers made 71 grabs for 807 yards and eight touchdowns.
SI Writes:
"Smith-Schuster, 27, quickly lost his starting job and only played in 11 games during his first season in New England. Smith-Schuster, who played 65% of the offensive snaps, recorded 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown. It’s tough to imagine a team bringing back a costly player like Smith-Schuster after that sort of showing, but the Patriots are in desperate need of offensive playmakers and still owe him $7 million in guaranteed money."
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