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Chiefs’ Top Free-Agent WR Alternatives After JuJu Smith-Schuster’s Patriots Contract

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 21: JuJu Smith-Schuster #9 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs onto the field during introductions against the Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Cooper Neill/Getty Photos

The Kansas City Chiefs shall be in the vast receiver marketplace for the 2d straight offseason after losing JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Unusual England Patriots in free company on Wednesday.

Smith-Schuster, who joined Kansas City for the 2022 marketing campaign after five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, signed a 3-365 days, $33 million tackle the Patriots after winning Monumental Bowl LVII with the Chiefs in February.

The 26-365 days-faded became as soon as spectacular in his lone season in Kansas City, catching 78 passes for 933 yards, which led all Chiefs vast receivers. He furthermore caught three landing passes.

But with Smith-Schuster now out of the image, and most likely Mecole Hardman, who’s furthermore a free agent, the Chiefs are positively going to desire to possess some upgrades at vast receiver.

The top receivers currently on the Kansas City roster are Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Of these four, only Valdes-Scantling totaled bigger than 500 receiving yards in 2022, catching 81 passes for 687 yards and two touchdowns.

In step with OverTheCap, the Chiefs only possess $6.8 million in cap predicament. It’s practical to occupy they could possibly sure some cap predicament so that you just can add an elite wideout, nonetheless let’s steal a watch at some extra most likely alternate choices for Kansas City in free company.


Odell Beckham Jr.

The Chiefs possess been amongst the groups to support Odell Beckham Jr.’s workout closing week in Arizona, so Kansas City is certainly amongst the practical destinations for the inclined vast receiver.

Beckham left out the total 2022 season whereas recuperating from a torn ACL suffered right by contrivance of the 2021 season’s Monumental Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals, and he’s now not expected to rating a wide contract this wintry weather thanks to that.

When healthy, the three-time Pro Bowler is one among the actual receivers in the NFL, having posted five seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards across his eight-365 days profession. All the contrivance by contrivance of the 2019 season, which he spent with the Cleveland Browns, he caught 74 passes for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns in 16 video games.

Whereas Beckham’s stock is down, there’s surely he’ll mesh smartly with Patrick Mahomes, who has been ready to link up consistently with just right about every vast receiver he has finished with since making his debut as Kansas City’s starter in 2018.

If the Chiefs can gain Beckham locked up on a deal in the $10-$13 million fluctuate for 2023, they must completely pull the rep website online off.


Adam Thielen

Adam Thielen spent 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, nonetheless he’s now a free agent after the franchise launched him closing week.

Love Beckham, the 32-365 days-faded’s stock has dropped over the closing few seasons, nonetheless there’s optimism that he can return to the Pro Bowl participant he as soon as became as soon as with a recent originate in a modern destination.

Thielen hasn’t posted a 1,000-plus yard receiving season since the 2018 marketing campaign, and his production has dipped since Minnesota drafted celeb receiver Justin Jefferson in 2020. All the contrivance by contrivance of the 2022 season, he caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns in 17 video games.

The Minnesota relate product’s production is level-headed at a first rate stage, and there’s surely he could possibly reach the 1,000-yard be aware in 2023 with Mahomes as his quarterback.

However, it be unclear what roughly contract Thielen is buying for in free company, and a deal for the inclined could possibly also very smartly be extra lucrative than Kansas City can possess sufficient cash.


Jarvis Landry

After one season with the Unusual Orleans Saints, Jarvis Landry is wait on in the marketplace.

When Landry became as soon as in the marketplace closing offseason, the Chiefs, alongside with the Saints, possess been amongst the groups to possess expressed the “most ardour” in the inclined wideout, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It’s conceivable Kansas City could possibly also very smartly be in the Landry market as soon as more this wintry weather despite a tough 2022 season that saw him employ just right 25 passes for 272 yards and one landing in nine video games.

When healthy, Landry is a actually succesful receiver. All the contrivance by contrivance of the 2019 season with the Cleveland Browns, he caught 83 passes for 1,174 yards and six touchdowns in six video games.

Ought to he establish healthy, the five-time Pro Bowler would straight away change into a hunch-to choice for Mahomes alongside Travis Kelce.

Love Thielen, it be unclear how worthy Landry would price, though he have not got a high impress impress as he’s positively previous his prime.

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