Insert The Juice: JuJu Smith-Schuster Joins Chiefs Offense

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Just a couple of days into NFL free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs have now found a new wide receiver for 2022. It was a position that the team was going to need to address. And they have landed one of the top slot wide receivers in this year’s free agent class.

#ChiefsKingdom Let’s Go!

— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) March 18, 2022

Former Pittsburgh Steelers pass catcher JuJu Smith-Schuster has signed a one-year deal with Kansas City. His base salary will be around $3 million, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. With incentives, Smith-Schuster can reach a max value of $10.75 million on the contract.

The Chiefs have found a new WR for Patrick Mahomes: JuJu Smith-Schuster #ChiefsKingdom #FPC #NFL #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/oYrrs01STg

— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) March 18, 2022

The Chiefs have now filled a crucial need at WR2 on the depth chart. How will that alter any of Kansas City’s remaining plans for addressing the wide receiver position going into 2022? Plus, what kind of play style could Chiefs fans expect from JuJu Smith-Schuster? We will answer those questions and look deeper into how this affects the offense. Let’s kick it off.

Smith-Schuster’s Play Style

Primarily, Smith-Schuster wins from the slot. He is not built like your typical slot receiver, however. Smith-Schuster has the size and strength needed to frustrate opposing defenders. His combination of toughness at the catch point and ball skills allows him to make more difficult catches in traffic look rather easy. Meanwhile, JuJu can create ample yards after the catch. This comes via a variety of ways.

He has tremendous elusiveness that makes defenders miss in space. Smith-Schuster’s stiff-arm move and patience in those moments is also something that he is extremely confident in. On the other hand, one should not discount his physicality with the ball in his hands. Smith-Schuster can surprise opponents when he decides to lay a shoulder into their chest. The same can be said when he is blocking on running plays. Despite how unimportant that may seem to some, it is an aspect that the Chiefs coaching staff wants from their wide receivers.

When playing in the slot, Smith-Schuster is most lethal in the short to intermediate passing game. His presence over the middle of the field should not be understated either. That could come in handy for Patrick Mahomes, given the way that defenses have begun to play him lately. For example, defenses are looking to take away the big, explosive play and hope to not get beat over the top.

Smith-Schuster is not incapable of winning from the outside, though. He has displayed consistency when tracking/adjusting to the ball in contested catches. To boot, the former Steeler can occasionally stack opponents vertically. Smith-Schuster has really improved at sitting and finding the soft spots in zones when working on the outside as well.

What Does This Signing Mean For Chiefs Offense?

We briefly mentioned what this could mean for Mahomes. Being able to have that underneath threat on longer downs and distances is so crucial. Whereas in the red zone, Smith-Schuster can utilize his strength and power to overwhelm opposing defensive backs. Mahomes has not truly had that at his disposal very much throughout his young career. Adding the yards after catch dynamics also opens up the Kansas City offense even further.

This could also take plenty of pressure off of guys like Travis Kelce or Tyreek Hill. There are many similarities with Smith-Schuster and Kelce, as far as usage could go. Kelce has been the only player that has been used as that security blanket for Mahomes in the middle of the field. Overall, the tight end’s ability to uncover at the top of the route and make catches in traffic has been largely unmatched by other Chiefs pass catchers.

Hill may also get more opportunities to win in the deeper portions of the field once again. Defenses took that away a handful of times last season. Certainly, Hill still had a strong season last year. The discrepancy of what was available for him in those spots or after the catch was far too detrimental for the Chiefs offense at times last season. By inserting Smith-Schuster, Hill could see the attention placed on him lessen to a greater extent.

How Will Kansas City Add To Receiver Spot After This Move?

The Chiefs have finally found a true WR2. After what seems like a year-long quest for a player to fill this spot, Kansas City is now set with their top three or four pass catchers. You have the top trio of Kelce, Hill and Smith-Schuster. Furthermore, Andy Reid believes that the team finally found a more sound role for Mecole Hardman late last season. His finish to the year, along with the playoff performance, was extremely vital for Hardman entering 2022.

The Chiefs also have bigger bodied pass catchers returning next season, in Josh Gordon and Daurice Fountain. Perhaps, they each lockdown a more secure secondary role in the offense in 2022. Both receivers appear determined to prove themselves on this specific roster in Kansas City.

After signing Smith-Schuster, the Chiefs are now not as likely to draft a wide receiver in round one. Do not completely rule that out. Yet, the likelihood that they address the defensive line or secondary is much higher at this point. Right tackle is also an even larger need now, following the addition of free agent pass rushers from AFC West division rivals. It is still possible that Kansas City drafts a wide receiver or signs another one for cheap. But, the Chiefs will probably not draft one until round three at the earliest, or sign one for more than say $7 million-$8 million now.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.