JuJu Smith-Schuster signed a contract with the New York Giants on Monday, taking one of the Kansas City Chiefs' most dependable veteran options out of their receiver room at a time when depth there already looked thin. Last season, Smith-Schuster caught 33 of 45 targets and stayed healthy for all 17 games, production that made him the most seasoned contributor in Kansas City’s 2025 receiver group.
That move matters now because the Chiefs have largely run back the same wideout room while searching for stability. Rashee Rice is still dealing with suspension questions and knee concerns, Xavier Worthy was wearing a yellow injury jersey during OTAs, Jalen Royals is hoping the Chiefs take the training wheels off, and Tyquan Thornton is asking for more responsibility. Smith-Schuster was the kind of security blanket coaches trusted when the offense needed a steady hand, and his exit removes a familiar piece from a room that has not been significantly upgraded.
The numbers from a year ago show why Kansas City valued him. Smith-Schuster’s 33 catches ranked fifth on the team, and he did it while playing every game. He knew the system, understood where to be and gave the Chiefs a reliable veteran presence that fit what they wanted from the position. Losing that kind of experience is one thing when a team has a crowded receiver room. It is another when the group is still being asked to prove it can hold together.
The Chiefs now have to decide whether they are comfortable moving forward with what they already have or whether Smith-Schuster’s departure forces a deeper look at the market. For a team that has not made major upgrades at wide receiver, Monday’s signing does more than trim depth. It sharpens the question of who, exactly, is left to absorb the snaps if the injury concerns or availability issues around the rest of the room linger into the summer.
