The Kansas City Chiefs were prepared to lose multiple wide receivers in free agency. Much to their surprise, the Chiefs have only lost Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, who recently signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chiefs were able to retain Tyquan Thornton, which was huge, giving their offense another speed threat to pair with Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice. The only FA WR left is veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster.
However, with the Chiefs having Worthy, Rice, Thornton, and Jalen Royals, there might not be a need for Smith-Schuster. And if that’s the case, the Las Vegas Raiders would gladly take him as they try to rebound after a terrible 2025 season.
Juju Smith-Schuster Could Depart Chiefs for Las Vegas Raiders
The 29-year-old wide receiver is quietly coming off a solid 2025 season, despite the offense not looking like it has in years past.
Smith-Schuster had 33 receptions (45 targets) for 345 yards and a touchdown in 17 games (12 starts). It was a vast improvement from the 2024 season, where the veteran had 18 receptions (26 targets) for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
If you take Smith-Schuster’s stats from this past season in KC and place them on the Raiders, he would be tied for fifth in receptions with Jakobi Meyers, who was only in Las Vegas for half the season. And his receiving yards would be fifth behind the likes of WR Tre Tucker (696), TE Brock Bowers (680), Meyers (352), and Jeanty (346).
With that being said, the fact that the Raiders’ leading receiver had 696 yards is a problem, and it screams they need more talent. Luckily, they have Klint Kubiak coming in as the head coach, and will likely have a new QB in Fernando Mendoza, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick.
If you’re the Raiders’ brass, you’ve already added Jalen Nailor in free agency, who will help this beleaguered offense, but it shouldn’t stop them from taking a flier on Smith-Schuster. Looking at their WR depth chart, Smith-Schuster is easily a top-three option.
It wouldn’t be that way in Kansas City, unless an injury happened. Spotrac projects the veteran’s calculated market value as a one-year, $2.2 million deal. The Chiefs could afford to re-sign him at that number, as they have $6.7 million in cap space, per Over The Cap.
However, the Raiders have $23.5 million in cap space, which means they could offer Smith-Schuster a little bit more than market value, especially if they value having a WR in that room, who could be another safety valve for a rookie QB.
Nonetheless, if the Raiders were to sign Smith-Schuster, it wouldn’t crush the Chiefs. Their WR room is still better than Las Vegas's, and they could add more talent in the draft, potentially at No. 9 overall.
Last year, Smith-Schuster re-signed quickly with the Chiefs (Mar. 15, 2025). The fact that he hasn’t yet could spell that his time in Kansas City is coming to an end.