The New England Patriots on Friday decided to cut ties with veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The writing had been on the wall for Smith-Schuster, who struggled throughout Patriots training camp and was limited to just a few drives in New England's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo explained the team's decision came down to two things.
"It was a decision between Eliot (Wolf) and myself really to give the younger guys an opportunity to go out there and get more reps and show what they can do," Mayo told reporters Sunday morning, per a team-provided video.
New England used a 2024 second-round pick on Ja'Lynn Polk and a fourth-rounder on Javon Baker, both of whom were far superior to Smith-Schuster in training camp.
Mayo added how Smith-Schuster’s health factored into the decision, even though the wideout said he was fully healthy entering the summer. It was clear in practice the 27-year-old lacked burst and could not create separation.
"That's part of it," Mayo responded to a question about Smith-Schuster's health.
"At the same time, we want just want him to get healthy. He still has some good ball left in him, and I wish him nothing but the best."
The Patriots will eat a dead cap hit of nearly $10 million by releasing Smith-Schuster, who signed a three-year, $33 million contract before the 2023 season. He underwhelmed in his debut campaign after Bill Belichick and the Patriots essentially replaced Jakobi Meyers with Smith-Schuster -- a decision that has aged like milk.
