One of the biggest offensive changes the Kansas City Chiefs made in the 2026 offseason was a shuffling of the wide receiver depth chart. This saw Hollywood Brown depart in free agency to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, and left JuJu Smith-Schuster unsigned, where the pass catcher remains as we near the summer months. This doesn't come as a huge surprise, with Smith-Schuster clearly showing his age and appearing a step slower in the 2025 season.
Still, the pass catcher managed to put up 345 receiving yards and a lone touchdown on the season. While this is respectable production on paper, it doesn't tell the full story. The Chiefs were dealing with a suspension of Rashee Rice, an early injury to Xavier Worthy, and a clear lack of understanding of what options to elevate on the receiver depth chart.
Smith-Schuster had a consistent opportunity in the 2025 season, and his performance made it clear that there simply isn't much left in the tank. This is the reason the receiver remains unsigned and could watch his free agency continue into the summer months. The only exception to this is if Smith-Schuster is willing to take a prove-it deal with zero guarantees for a rebuilding team.
Contenders are going to have a stocked depth chart and prefer to focus on youth to fill out the final spots. As harsh as it might seem, Smith-Schuster simply doesn't offer viable upside at this stage of his career, and that is the reason KC opted to move on.
Former Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster struggles to find new team
This has been confirmed as the correct decision based on the lack of interest throughout the league. Smith-Schuster has been unable to garner a contract weeks after Brown signed or 2025 standout Tyquan Thornton, who resigned with the Chiefs and is viewed as a replacement for the lost veteran duo.
For Smith-Schuster, it's hard to imagine the veteran isn't going to find a depth spot at least by the time preseason rolls around. Camp injuries and looking to shore up every possible weakness should provide the receiver at least one additional opportunity.
However, there is no denying that the aging receiver is quickly running out of road, offering limited upside. A lot of this is due to a career of injuries that have robbed Smith-Schuster of explosive ability and left a lot of his damage as underneath contested catches. This obviously is terribly enticing to would-be suitors looking to add the final touches to their receiver depth chart.
Kansas City cannot afford to entertain a reunion with the team needing to look at new fits if they opt to add to the position. Time with Smith-Schuster has run its course and left the receiver continuing to search for his next landing spot.
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