3 Patriots Who Could Be Traded During NFL Draft

2. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR

There was a time when JuJu Smith-Schuster was one of the top up-and-coming receivers in the game. The USC product started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017 and put up 917 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie.

Smith-Schuster was just 20 years old when he was drafted so his promising rookie campaign was very encouraging. He continued to grow as a player in 2018, hauling in 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven more touchdowns. Unfortunately, that was the first and last time he crossed the 1,000-yard plateau.

Injuries played a part in his decline but he also seemed more interested in making TikTok videos than actually playing the game. Eventually, the Steelers moved on and he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year deal. Without any long-term security, Smith-Schuster had another strong campaign, gaining 933 yards for the Chiefs.

After helping them win a Super Bowl, he signed with the Patriots on a three-year deal. Again with some comfort in a multi-year deal, his production fell off a cliff. In his first season with New England, he had just 260 yards and one touchdown on 29 receptions.

As bad as he was, the Patriots might be able to flip him for a pick. If some general manager misses out on their ideal receiver prospect, they might be willing to roll the dice on Smith-Schuster. Perhaps they’ll believe his issues were related to Mac Jones, who was awful in 2023. That could be enough to convince them to send a late pick to New England, getting his contract off the books.