JuJu Smith-Schuster’s time in Foxboro is over.
The New England Patriots informed the veteran wide receiver that they are releasing him Friday, according to multiple reports.
Smith-Schuster signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the team during the 2023 offseason as one of the primary free agent targets of the former regime led by Bill Belichick. The deal included $16 million guaranteed, so the team will have to eat $9.6 million in dead cap money despite releasing him.
Under the new regime of vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo, the Patriots are having a youth movement at receiver by drafting Ja’Lynn Polk out of Washington with the No. 37 pick and then Javon Baker out of Central Florida with the No. 110 pick.
That leaves just one or two other spots on the roster, with 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, 2023 sixth-round pick Kayshon Boutte and fifth-year veteran Jalen Reagor among those vying to stick.
The Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 17-3 in their preseason opener Thursday night. Smith-Schuster played 11 snaps and wasn’t targeted with a pass.
