Pats sign JuJu Smith-Schuster

Shelterdog

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I really like Meyers and kind of see this move as six of one and a half dozen of another. That being said, I have always felt Meyers was gone from the Patriots after that play in the raiders game.
Fair point. What's the whole Bill thing, if you want a team that's fast you draft fast players, you want a team that tackles well make sure you get players who tackle well? You want a team that doesn't make dumb mistakes don't keep the guy who made the dumbest play in the recent history of the sport.
 

Mooch

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This is a no-brainer upgrade for the Pats for all of the reasons stated upthread: JuJu is a much more explosive player with the ball in his hands, he's a bigger, stronger more capabable blocker and he's got better straight line speed. For the same exact price as Jacobi, you have to like this move.
 

Toe Nash

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I’m sorry but Juju is better than Jakobi. I’m a Pats fanboy too but the eyeballs tell me there’s more flash, more big play ability from Smith-Schuster. This is is an upgrade.
I think they might be reasonably close but it's hard to tell with the differing quality of teams they've been on. That said Juju's injury history is bigger and includes a few concussions which I don't love (I know Meyers had one last year).
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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I like Juju more than I like Jakobi.

I don't think either are the answer as a top WR on a team, but Juju does have a better ability to separate. So...get Hopkins, let Mac target him, and if he's covered you have an easy read on your 2nd WR.

Juju isn't going to make those contested catches like Jakobi, so if he isn't open and Mac forces those throws like he did to Jakobi...could be a long year.
 

RedOctober3829

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Very similar players, but Juju more explosive after the catch. Juju is good at finding holes in the zone and getting YAC. I like it on the surface, but that only means they are back to level in terms of last year's WR room. Still need to get a #1 WR.
 

Euclis20

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Best 3 seasons:

JuJu:
2018: 111 rec, 1,426 yds, 12.8 y/c, 7 td
2017: 79 rec, 917 yds, 15.8 y/c, 7 td
2022: 78 rec, 933 yds, 12.0 y/c, 3 td

Jakobi:
2021: 83 rec, 866 yds, 10.4 y/c, 2 td
2022: 67 rec, 804 yds, 12.0 y/c, 6 td
2020: 59 rec, 729 yds, 12.4 y/c, 0 td

JuJu is better, but it's reasonably close. Given the matched salaries, this probably represents a slight improvement for the Pats. Not a major one, but still...some improvement is better than none, especially if the $$ is the same.
Juju's circumstances in 2017, 2018 and 2022 all have one major thing in common, and it's got nothing to do with him personally. He was playing alongside an all-pro pass catcher each year, and whether it was AB in 2017 and 2018 or Kelce in 2022, he thrives when he's not the focus of the defense (as is probably the case with most). If he comes here as the #1 guy, I don't see him being any more effective than Meyers. If there's another move coming, he probably has a higher ceiling.
 

Bowser

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Jakobi has great releases and is decisive at the top of his routes, but he's slow and plays slow. Juju has medium speed but plays faster. YMMV.
 

Jinhocho

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Fair point. What's the whole Bill thing, if you want a team that's fast you draft fast players, you want a team that tackles well make sure you get players who tackle well? You want a team that doesn't make dumb mistakes don't keep the guy who made the dumbest play in the recent history of the sport.
Yeah, and that's basically what I'm thinking. The s***** thing is Meyers always had such a great reputation as being such a smart and heady player, but this year and that play I think hurt him a lot. Maybe he would have been back if he took less money...
 
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Cellar-Door

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Are you a "this is a lateral move" guy or a "hey at least they didn't downgrade guy"?

I'm a "they can still pick up another WR" guy.
I'm a that's an upgrade and sets you up to make moves at X WR or TE for a difference maker in trade or draft.
 

54thMA

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Are you a "this is a lateral move" guy or a "hey at least they didn't downgrade guy"?

I'm a "they can still pick up another WR" guy.
I'm a "this is an upgrade" guy and this was clearly in the works as Meyers walked out the door.

Or more to the point, shown the door.
 

DJnVa

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Smith-Schuster and Meyers are often referred to as big slot receivers, but the Pats newest pass-catcher presents more flexibility to play him on the outside. Last season, Smith-Schuster ran nearly 60 percent of his routes out wide, catching 49 passes for 544 yards.

Smith-Schuster can line up at the "X" receiver position and win contested catches, hauling in seven of his 15 contested targets. Mainly, the Chiefs would throw him jump balls on out-and-ups or have him use his body control and feel for the sideline on back-shoulder fades.

Along with offering a bit more on the outside, Smith-Schuster is an upgrade over Meyers in accumulating yards after the catch. He averaged 5.9 yards after the catch and forced nine missed tackles as a ball carrier in 2022. For comparison, Meyers accumulated 3.6 yards after the catch per reception and only forced two missed tackles, per PFF.
 

tims4wins

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Juju's circumstances in 2017, 2018 and 2022 all have one major thing in common, and it's got nothing to do with him personally. He was playing alongside an all-pro pass catcher each year, and whether it was AB in 2017 and 2018 or Kelce in 2022, he thrives when he's not the focus of the defense (as is probably the case with most). If he comes here as the #1 guy, I don't see him being any more effective than Meyers. If there's another move coming, he probably has a higher ceiling.
The flip side is, did Meyers achieve the numbers he did because he was the only viable target on a lousy receiving corps? Akin to the NBA "star" who scores 25 ppg on a crappy team because someone has to take the shots.
 

singaporesoxfan

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He was John Smith in college. At one point, he decided to formally go by his nickname, JuJu, and also add his step-father's last name on to his own; thus John Smith became Juju Smith-Schuster.
Interesting how he went from one of the most generic names to a really distinctive name
 

NortheasternPJ

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I'd rather have both but JuJu > Meyers is an upgrade. Not a huge one, but if it was one or the other give me JuJu. I'd love to see the offense with both of them in it.
 

Super Nomario

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I don't think either are the answer as a top WR on a team, but Juju does have a better ability to separate. So...get Hopkins, let Mac target him, and if he's covered you have an easy read on your 2nd WR.
ESPN's tracking-based WR stats say Jakobi is quite a bit better at getting open than JuJu.

Juju's circumstances in 2017, 2018 and 2022 all have one major thing in common, and it's got nothing to do with him personally. He was playing alongside an all-pro pass catcher each year, and whether it was AB in 2017 and 2018 or Kelce in 2022, he thrives when he's not the focus of the defense (as is probably the case with most). If he comes here as the #1 guy, I don't see him being any more effective than Meyers. If there's another move coming, he probably has a higher ceiling.
I think this is right. He's really good against zone and better with RAC than Meyers ... but as it stands now, teams are not going to play a lot of zone against the Patriots. There are circumstances where Smith-Schuster can be the better player, but they haven't created them yet IMO. We'll see what's left in the offseason and if they can.
 

8slim

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I like this signing a lot and I think it's an upgrade over Meyers.

Jakobi has been a great story, and a good WR. Jakobi also is the very definition of "he is what he is". He gets open, catches the ball, and goes down. JuJu's YAC is significantly better.
 

JM3

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How does it work? They get a comp pick in next year's draft for Meyers leaving, and the JuJu signing doesn't affect that? If so, we have to factor that in.
According to OverTheCap they were in line to get a 4th for Meyers, but JuJu wipes that out:

https://overthecap.com/compensatory-picks

But unless they are completely ignoring free agency this year, that was bound to happen. Their remaining list of free agents don't seem like that inspiring of a crew in terms of potential payments by other teams.
 

Super Nomario

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The flip side is, did Meyers achieve the numbers he did because he was the only viable target on a lousy receiving corps? Akin to the NBA "star" who scores 25 ppg on a crappy team because someone has to take the shots.
It's not just this; Meyers has been more efficient than Smith-Schuster on a per-target basis over the last four years.
 

Jimbodandy

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I'm a that's an upgrade and sets you up to make moves at X WR or TE for a difference maker in trade or draft.
Yeah this is where I am too.

Meyers and Mac had a pretty nice trust relationship, but JJSS is a bit more explosive, can simulate an X a little, and doesn't block anything or anybody. You can add X or slot (or TE obviously) still and should.
 

pvg44

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Chiefs fan here, and a big fan of JuJu this past year. His numbers were modest (though still very good) mainly because of injury, primarily knee issues and a concussion he got that kept him out for a few weeks. He was a tough possession receiver who made the drive extending catch even though the hit was coming. He’s not the fastest, though, so corners didn’t respect him getting by them so he wasn’t ever that open on his routes. He would work well in tandem with a speedy WR who can take the safety deep and open up the middle.

Seemed to be a good guy and teammate, only issue was the post-SB trolling of the Eagles. Hope he does well in NE; he will definitely help Jones at QB.
 

P'tucket rhymes with...

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Meyers put up damn good numbers with JV players throwing to him at QB. bet Jakobi pops off next season.

This feels like a lateral move, but at least it's something.
Seems like the worst you can say is that it's at least a break-even for a guy we all thought was gone anyways, and the off-season isn't close to over. The numbers are what they are; even if they wanted JM back but screwed up the negotiations--and that strikes me as unlikely--their Plan B is a pretty good get.
 

SMU_Sox

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Juju is better Vs zone and has historically been very good vs zone but struggles vs man. He is much better after the catch. I’ve read that BOB prefers RAC slots so I think they went for a stylistic change. Whether or not it pays off remains to be seen. I get why they did it but I’m skeptical. Juju might be a better scheme fit for what they want but Meyers is imo the better receiver.

Just for perspective Juju was 13th overall for yards per route run vs zone and 66th vs man.
 

ElcaballitoMVP

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I'm in the "slight upgrade over Jakobi, but I hope it's not the last move they make at WR" camp.

Jakobi has signed elsewhere, so it's better to have JuJu than not have him. And with JuJu's upside, I can see why the team would prefer to pay him the same AAV that Jakobi is getting.
 

stp

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I think I would rather have kept Myers. To me, he seems like the easier man to root for. JuJu has been known to make some bulletin board material comments in the past that won't go over well with the Patriots. He's probably the better player. I really hope more WR help is coming. I'm still hoping for Jeudy, but that probably won't happen.
 

tims4wins

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I know that in reality Meyers signed for $11M, but in my head he was gone at $15M heading into the offseason, so I am treating it like a win from that perspective.
 

JM3

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I think I would rather have kept Myers. To me, he seems like the easier man to root for. JuJu has been known to make some bulletin board material comments in the past that won't go over well with the Patriots. He's probably the better player. I really hope more WR help is coming. I'm still hoping for Jeudy, but that probably won't happen.
I'm sure there's a Punch & Jeudy joke in here somewhere...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrAqj69HFCo
 

BusRaker

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JuJu put up similar numbers when he wasn't even the first or second option for the QB whereas outside of a few Devonte Parker games Jacobi was usually the 1 or close to the 1 option. I think Juju is better
 

reggiecleveland

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Fair point. What's the whole Bill thing, if you want a team that's fast you draft fast players, you want a team that tackles well make sure you get players who tackle well? You want a team that doesn't make dumb mistakes don't keep the guy who made the dumbest play in the recent history of the sport.
I agree the lateral is a factor in this decision. Just as much as losing a guy you think may repeat a dumber error is the demonstration to players that making a really dumb play gets you a ticket out of town. For Meyers it is good to get out of town too.
 

rodderick

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JuJu put up similar numbers when he wasn't even the first or second option for the QB whereas outside of a few Devonte Parker games Jacobi was usually the 1 or close to the 1 option. I think Juju is better
I mean, having teams devote their attention to Kelce makes it easier for Juju, not harder. He struggled as the number one option in Pittsburgh.
 

RG33

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Solid WR, solid contract, solid Meyers replacement with upside.

Now go get Hopkins and/or Jeudy.
 

8slim

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Meyers put up damn good numbers with JV players throwing to him at QB. bet Jakobi pops off next season.

This feels like a lateral move, but at least it's something.
He'll benefit a ton from having a #1 in front of him that occupies a lot of defensive attention. I don't expect Meyers to be functionally better than he was in NE, but his numbers could improve simply because of Adams presence. I'm not sure Garrappolo himself is going to help Jakobi "pop off".
 

Reggie's Racquet

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This is a no-brainer upgrade for the Pats for all of the reasons stated upthread: JuJu is a much more explosive player with the ball in his hands, he's a bigger, stronger more capabable blocker and he's got better straight line speed. For the same exact price as Jacobi, you have to like this move.
This. Just look at the video upthread.
 

Mooch

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I mean, having teams devote their attention to Kelce makes it easier for Juju, not harder. He struggled as the number one option in Pittsburgh.
He struggled because Big Ben was a below replacement level QB at that point in his career.
 

InstaFace

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I really like Meyers and kind of see this move as six of one and a half dozen of another. That being said, I have always felt Meyers was gone from the Patriots after that play in the raiders game.
Good point, this has to be an upgrade just from a FBIQ perspective.

"Sorry Jakobi, we were going to toss that same contract over to you, but instead we threw it to an opposing player."
 

BigJimEd

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Ben's 2020 and 2021 cumulative passer rating and ANY/A are virtually indistinguishable from Mac Jones' career, so we'll see how that goes.
JuJu played 5 games in 2021. In 2020 he put up similar numbers to what Meyers had the last couple year's.
Not lighting the league on fire but I wouldn't consider it struggling.
2019, Ben was hurt and he had Rudolph and Hodges throwing him the ball.