3 Patriots on the Chopping Block Next After JuJu Smith-Schuster Release

On Friday, the New England Patriots released wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, bringing an end to a highly disappointing era. After signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Patriots in March 2023, Smith-Schuster never found his footing in New England and looked like a shell of his former self. The Patriots' decision to cut ties with the veteran only one season into his deal while being willing to incur $9.6 million in dead cap space doesn't reflect kindly on Smith-Schuster's production.

In his lone season with the Patriots, he caught only 29 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown. Brought in by Bill Belichick to replace the reliable Jakobi Meyers, Meyers went on to excel with the Las Vegas Raiders while Smith-Schuster flopped in New England. In a move heavily criticized at the time by Pats fans, the decision only looks worse following Friday's news.

Starting last season, the NFL removed gradual cutdown dates and now only has one roster deadline, at the conclusion of the preseason. The final cutdown deadline this season is at 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 27, when each team must trim their roster down to 53. Even so, that hasn't stopped Eliot Wolf from already parting ways with one of the more recognizable names on New England's roster. More could be on the way soon.

On Thursday night, the Patriots opened up their preseason schedule with a 17-3 win over the Carolina Panthers. Although a relatively unnoteworthy result, Thursday's game could go a long way toward helping New England's front office shape up their roster.

Here are three Patriots who could be next up on the chopping block after Smith-Schuster was released.

3. Chad Ryland

Chad Ryland isn't the most notable name on the Patriots roster, but after a poor rookie season, the 2023 fourth-rounder has been locked into a kicking competition with five-year veteran Joey Slye.

In his rookie season, Ryland only converted 16 of 25 (64 percent) field goal attempts. For comparison, NFL kickers made 85.9 percent of their field goals in 2023. Ryland's lack of reliability was immediately chalked up as another special teams overdraft swing and miss by Bill Belichick.

In Thursday's preseason game, Ryland converted both extra points while Slye knocked through a field goal from 42 yards out. Showcasing the NFL's new kickoff rules, Ryland and Slye evenly split kickoff duties. Head coach Jerod Mayo has claimed that it remains a "wide-open competition", but hitting field goals under the pressure of an NFL game vs. hitting field goals on the back practice field shouldn't carry the same weight. It feels hard to completely put Ryland's rookie season in the rearview while ignoring Slye's proven pro track record.

Kicker talk doesn't get a ton of love, but with points at a premium with the expected lack of production from this offensive unit, field goals could be the difference-maker in several games. Patriots fans saw Ryland's shortcomings cost New England games last season and won't be looking for a repeat of that in 2024.

New England isn't going to carry two kickers, and Slye should maintain the edge with a proven ability to kick in the NFL.