(Kansas City) The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Juju Smith-Schuster to a contract, adding to their wide receiver group on the eve of the deadline for NFL teams to establish a 53-man roster, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
The person, who has confirmed numerous rumors, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because the pact would be conditional on a medical exam.
Smith-Schuster was released by the New England Patriots earlier this month after completing one year of his three-year, $25 million contract. He played one campaign with the Chiefs in 2022, catching 78 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns. Smith-Schuster notably helped lead the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, where he had seven catches for 53 yards in a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chiefs had one of the worst groups of wide receivers in the NFL last season, when they had the 49ers San Francisco’s en route to their second straight Super Bowl title. They tried to remedy the situation by courting Marquise Brown in free agency and selecting Xavier Worthy in the first round of the NFL draft, but Brown’s presence in the season opener is uncertain after he suffered a dislocated shoulder during the preseason.
The Chiefs also have Rashee Rice, who stood out last season, but he is currently in legal trouble in Texas.
Smith-Schuster will add experience to a relatively young group of wide receivers. He has 430 catches for 5,048 yards and 30 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons, including five with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 27-year-old veteran had his best campaign in 2018, when he was selected to the Pro Bowl and finished the campaign with 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns.