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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots informed veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster that they plan to release him Friday, a league source told ESPN Senior NFL Reporter Jeremy Fowler.
Smith-Schuster had signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the team in the 2023 offseason, as one of the primary free-agent targets of the former regime led by Bill Belichick. That deal included $16 million in guaranteed money, so the team will have to account for $9.6 million of salary cap space for Smith-Schuster this year despite releasing him.
It was clear from the start of training camp that the 27-year-old Smith-Schuster was facing longer odds to earn a roster spot, in part because of an infusion of youth that included rookie receivers Ja'Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round).