The New England Patriots made a surprising roster move this week by releasing veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, just one year after he signed a three-year, $25 million deal.
First-year head coach Jerod Mayo recently explained the reasoning behind this unexpected decision early in training camp, and his explanation sheds light on the team’s direction.
In a media briefing, Mayo shared that the decision was made in collaboration with Director of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf to “give the younger guys an opportunity to show what they can do.”
This decision comes as a pair of rookie wide receivers, second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk from Washington and fourth-rounder Javon Baker from UCF, have been impressing in training camp. Combined with reports of JuJu struggling in camp and his sizable contract compared to his recent production, it’s clear why the Patriots are opting to focus on their younger talent.
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JuJu, now 27, was once a rising star pushing veterans aside during his early years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his career trajectory hasn’t followed the expected path of sustained dominance.
While another team may give Smith-Schuster a chance, the Patriots are clearly focused on rebuilding and moving forward with a younger roster. It will be interesting to see how the rookies perform with more opportunities, and hopefully, JuJu finds a new team and rejuvenates his career.
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