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Jerod Mayo Breaks Silence on Juju Smith-Schuster's Sudden Release

The Patriots shockingly parted ways with the veteran wide receiver on Friday.

By Jovan Alford

Jun 12, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (7) makes a catch at minicamp at Gillette Stadium.
Jun 12, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (7) makes a catch at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
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The New England Patriots shocked the NFL world on Friday when they releasedveteran wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster after their first preseason game on Thursday night.

The veteran receiver was entering his second season with the Patriots after signing a three-year, $25.5 million deal last offseason. Smith-Schuster had a disappointing first season in New England and didn’t look like the receiver we saw in Kansas City, which likely played a part in his release.

Ahead of New England’s training camp practice on Sunday, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo was asked about what led to Smith-Schuster’s release and gave two interesting reasons.

"It was a decision between Eliot and myself really to give the younger guys an opportunity to go out there and get more reps and show what they can do," Mayo said (h/t Sean T. McGuire of NESN).

Mayo was also asked about Smith-Schuster’s health and the knee injury he battled last season and if it played a part in their decision.

“That’s part of it. At the same time, we just want him to get healthy. He still has some good ball left in him. I wish him nothing but the best,” Mayo added.

It’s not a surprise to hear that the knee injury slowed Smith-Schuster down as he struggled to show that same explosion he had in Kansas City and Pittsburgh. 

Smith-Schuster isn’t the fastest wide receiver in the NFL, so he truly depends on his quickness and burst that wasn’t there in 2023. The vet told reporters at this year’s training camp that he’s healthy.

If that’s the case, Smith-Schuster will get another opportunity to show he can be a starting wide receiver sometime this summer. However, New England couldn’t wait for Smith-Schuster to find that explosiveness and was willing to take an almost $10 million cap hit.

The Patriots also have an abundance of young wide receivers like Pop Douglas, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, who are all looking to show that they belong in the NFL.

With New England’s offense moving in a different direction, the Patriots are willing to bet on their young wide receivers over Smith-Schuster.

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