Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and new Super Bowl champion JuJu Smith-Schuster is on the move again.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Taylor Bisciotti, Smith-Schuster agreed to a contract with the New England Patriots Wednesday.
According to Rapoport, Smith-Schuster is signing a three-year, $33-million deal with the Patriots after his third foray into free agency. He signed one-year deals with the Steelers in 2021 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
The Steelers will host the New England Patriots at Acrisure Stadium in 2023. That game will mark the first time Smith-Schuster returns to the Steel City as an opponent.
Smith-Schuster, just 26 years old, is coming off a strong season with the Chiefs, hauling in 78 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns. In the playoffs, Smith-Schuster added 10 receptions for 89 yards, including seven receptions for 53 yards in Super Bowl LVII. He drew a pivotal holding call in the Chiefs’ 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Prior to catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, Smith-Schuster spent five seasons in Pittsburgh after being a second-round pick out of USC in 2017.
In Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster hauled in 323 passes for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns and added four carries for 22 yards and a score. Smith-Schuster was named to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and also won the Steelers’ MVP award that season.
With the Patriots, Smith-Schuster likely replaces the role Jakobi Meyers vacated after he left for the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday. Smith-Schuster will now catch passes in Foxboro from third-year quarterback Mac Jones in new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien’s system.
