The Kansas City Chiefs could use some help at wide receiver. However, they should know better than to look JuJu Smith-Schuster's way. The former Super Bowl champion is back up for grabs after a brief tenure with the New York Giants.
John Harbaugh's team signed him earlier in the offseason, but injuries held him back in training camp. Smith-Schuster didn't suit up for their preseason opener, and he wound up being a roster casualty to make room for the recently signed Najee Harris.
Smith-Schuster followed former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to the Big Apple after securing 33 receptions for 345 yards and one touchdown in his final season in Missouri. Now, he's looking for his next deal.
Re-signing JuJu Smith-Schuster would be a backward decision by the Chiefs
Nagy is clearly a big fan of Smith-Schuster, and Andy Reid must also think highly of him. He made a name for himself with his sturdy, physical blocking, and he was also reportedly a positive leader in the locker room.
That said, it's been a long time since he was an actual difference-maker on the field, so the Chiefs shouldn't want anything to do with him right now. They do need help at wide receiver, but there are only so many roster spots, and Smith-Schuster wouldn't be an upgrade at any level.
The Chiefs survived an injury scare with big-play specialist Tyquan Thornton. His hamstring injury wasn't as serious as initially reported, and he's back to practice and ready to build on last year's early-season momentum.
Rookie fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen has also looked the part so far. He's the leading candidate to be the team's in-house reinforcement and breakout candidate, with coach Reid gushing about his efforts through training camp and in the preseason opener.
Then again, the passing game's success — or lack thereof — will most likely run through Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice — again. On paper, they can be one of the deadliest tandems in football, but paper doesn't win games.
Rice has to prove that he can stay healthy and out of trouble, and the injury-prone Worthy has failed to live up to the hype that surrounded him as a speedy first-round pick. Patrick Mahomes might be a superstar, but he can't throw the ball to himself.
If the Chiefs' pass catchers struggle and there are no clear avenues for improvement, then maybe they should reconsider bringing back Smith-Schuster for a third stint with the organization. That, however, would reek of desperation.
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