JuJu Smith-Schuster might not be as useless to the Chiefs as you think

What if there's more in the tank for JSS than what casual fans might believe?

The dominant line of thinking goes something like this: JuJu Smith-Schuster is damaged goods with a knee injury that's plagued him over the course of multiple seasons now. Therefore, counting on anything good to come from him in the future is foolish.

It makes sense.

On Friday, the New England Patriots released JuJu Smith-Schuster after a single season of a three-year deal signed in the spring of 2023. It's an admission of a deal that didn't work out and signals a player who might be on his last leg (literally) in the National Football League.

The fact that the Patriots are just eating $7 million in guaranteed money to move on without any return is enough for most fans to write him off, to think his best years were behind and to leave it at that. Bringing up the idea of looking closer at such a player typically brings about an eye roll and/or dismissive take.

But just because someone calls it a waste of time doesn't mean that it is. In fact, it behooves any general manager to turn over every rock or stone possible for potential help since the NFL is so competitive and the difference between winning and losing is so minimal.

When it comes to Smith-Schuster and the Kansas City Chiefs, the history is already there for some success given that JSS led the Chiefs wideouts in receiving yards in 2022 with 933 on 78 catches. From that point, the Patriots ponied up $11 million per season for three years and Smith-Schuster took the deal, a proper return on his bet-on-me season with K.C.

Unfortunately, Smith-Schuster could never get fully healthy from a knee injury suffered during the Chiefs' postseason from the previous winter. Smith-Schuster missed all of the Patriots' offseason training activities and into training camp. By season's end, he had 47 catches for 260 yards in only 11 games played.

Back to the closer look. What if Smith-Schuster has more left in the tank than expected? Just because New England cast him aside doesn't mean he's finished for good. Let's look at a few reasons:

1. The regime that brought in Smith-Schuster in the first place is long gone. Bill Belichick is out and Jerod Mayo is in. Eliot Wolf is in charge of a front office that's ushered in a youth movement on offense that includes rookie wideouts Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker working with new quarterback Drake Maye.

2. Last season's lack of productivity wasn't exactly helped by going from Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback to whatever you call the combination of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe.

3. Smith-Schuster, who is still only 27 years old, had a concussion and ankle injury in addition to the knee issues coming into camp last year. In other words, several problems were happening all in the same season.

Since New England owes Smith-Schuster $7M guaranteed, any team that signs him now is likely to get him at a vet minimum, allowing the Pats to foot the bill for any real production. In other words, a closer look comes at a minimal cost.

The Chiefs loved Smith-Schuster his first time around. He was a clear favorite of the coaching staff and took to the offense very well. Is it possible that another run is possible if the Chiefs just signed and stashed him, waiting for him to get fully healthy and knowing there was no need to rush things along?

A quick dismissal is understandable but it also doesn't have to be the final answer. It's quite possible JuJu Smith-Schuster has more to work with down the road than what anyone can see right now.