Report: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs Agree to 1-Year Contract in NFL Free Agency

JuJu Smith-Schuster and the Kansas City Chiefs are running it back.

The veteran wide receiver and the team agreed on a one-year deal on Saturday, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.

Smith-Schuster, 28, was a bit of a non-factor for the Chiefs in the 2024 season, registering just 18 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. He was far more effective in his first tenure with the Chiefs back in 2022, catching 78 passes for 933 yards and three scores while helping Kansas City win a Super Bowl title.

But the Chiefs had more weapons in the passing game throughout 2024 than they did in 2022. Travis Kelce remained the top option for Patrick Mahomes, while Rashee Rice was a prime target before his season-ending injury, rookie wideout Xavier Worthy provided a field-stretching threat and midseason acquisition DeAndre Hopkins was preferred over Smith-Schuster.

With Worthy, Rice and Marquise Brown returning for the 2024 season, it remained unclear if the team would prioritize retaining either Smith-Schuster or Hopkins. And the former has never come close to replicating his Pro Bowl form from 2018 (111 catches for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns) with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the years that have followed.

But the Chiefs clearly see value in Smith-Schuster and his familiarity with Mahomes and Andy Reid's scheme, retaining him yet again.