What they’re saying about Patriots signing star WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
JuJu Smith #JuJuSmith
The wait is over: The New England Patriots have made a major splash in free agency by signing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The news took the NFL by storm Wednesday afternoon just before the official start of NFL free agency. The Patriots reportedly signed Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $33 million deal. The numbers are similar to what former Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers got to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Here’s a rundown of how the NFL is reacting to the news of the Patriots landing a big name on the free-agent market:
Josh Uche, Patriots linebacker
Jordan Schultz, The Score
“(The Patriots) loved JuJu’s upside and feel he’s an ascending player.”
Jakobi Meyers, former Patriots receiver
Chris Mason, MassLive
“So, the Patriots just straight up picked JuJu over Jakobi.”
Mark Daniels, MassLive
“JuJu Smith-Schuster played more in the slot in Pittsburgh, but last season he lined up inside on 342 snaps. By comparison, Meyers had 414 snaps in the slot. I’d guess this is the Patriots next slot receiver”
Henry McKenna, FOX Sports
“Fascinating that Jakobi Meyers and JuJu Smith-Schuster have extremely similar contracts. Get ready for comparisons.”
Alex Barth, 98.5 The Sports Hub
“If JSS is playing in the slot, which I think he will be, it makes a lot more sense for any other veteran WR addition to be a primarily perimeter guy. So of the players they’ve been linked to recently that’d be Hopkins, Sutton, Beckham.”
Phil Perry, NBC Sports Boston
“Any chance Bill Belichick has ever heard of TikTok?”
Ian Rapoport, NFL Network
“All day today and really last night was about the Patriots vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. I know he wanted to return to Kansas City. That’s kind of where his heart was. The Patriots pulled at him too. They offered more money. That helps, plus the opportunity to kind of remake himself and re-work himself and essentially start a new legacy. The opportunity to go to New England, there’s a lot to like here.”
Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated
“Juju Smith-Schuster is a strong inside WR, who can be a contested catch guy outside, but won’t run by anyone. Should fit as a sort of power slot, in NE. Good feel for the game, was tough and a good locker-room guy in KC. Also, as of now, Pats aren’t in it for DeAndre Hopkins.”
Mike Giardi, NFL Network
“The Chiefs weren’t willing to go to the financial lengths the Patriots were on Smith-Schuster. Meyers would have returned had the Pats been closer to type of guarantees the Raiders offered him but his value, both with the Pats & in open market, were in different places.”