JuJu Smith-Schuster knows there are no guarantees ahead of him.
The veteran wide receiver will be suiting up for the New York Giants this summer at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. (It's a change of address due to World Cup logistics.) For Smith-Schuster, it's an uphill battle to prove his value to a new coaching staff after spending three of the last four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.
While there are more variables working against him than there are in his favor, one key decision-maker is in his corner: Matt Nagy.
Nagy was hired to run the Giants' offense this offseason after serving in the same role in Kansas City in Smith-Schuster's last two seasons. The Chiefs allowed Nagy's contract to expire and went on to reunite with Eric Bieniemy. Nagy took a lateral move to captain John Harbaugh's offense and provide another voice of experience for a team undergoing a complete change of leadership.
That Nagy is so familiar with Smith-Schuster is going to give him a leg up over the competition, at least in a sense, and he's going to need it. He's not the only veteran wide receiver signed to bolster the overall competition as some roster certainties nurse offseason injuries. Both Braxton Berrios and Odell Beckham Jr. tried out on the same day as Smith-Schuster and all three vets were signed to the 90-man roster.
The former Chiefs' receiver has an ally in his corner as he faces an uphill climb to make the Giants roster.
The Giants are set atop the depth chart with Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, rookie Malachi Fields, Calvin Austin III, and Darnell Mooney. From there, it's anyone's guess, which is what makes training camp so important, but there are plenty of others hanging around as competition as well—including former third-round pick Jalin Hyatt and vet Isaiah Hodgins (not to mention a number of rookie free agents).
JuJu Smith-Schuster landed in New York on June 1, a day after he worked out for the Giants alongside Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios. The thing that separates this stop from his last few isn't the contract or where he sits on the depth chart. It's the coordinator.
Smith-Schuster caught 33 passes for 345 yards and 1 touchdown last season for the Chiefs, but he played considerable reps due to the coaching staff's trust in his well-rounded skill set. Smith-Schuster is a dependable intermediate target who was also the best blocker in the Chiefs' WR room. His nine years of experience and championship perspective will count for something in a new environment as well.
It's possible that the Giants' injury concerns will aid Smith-Schuster's chances for a roster spot early. Nabers is returning from a torn ACL in time for Week 1. Slayton had core muscle surgery. Gunner Olszewski is already out with a torn Achilles. Smith-Schuster's familiarity with what Nagy asks of his receivers could give him the edge when it comes down to players who were otherwise equal on the depth chart.
Beckham has a history with the team. Berrios has been around the block as well. Nothing is given for any of them, but that's not lost on Smith-Schuster. He'll do all he can to make the team, but it can't hurt Smith-Schuster to have an ally on the coaching staff. And Matt Nagy might like having a familiar face around to help translate things as well.
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