Sports Illustrated makes encouraging prediction for Chiefs free agent addition

The Kansas City Chiefs made an underrated move this offseason by signing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal worth a possible $10.75 million (the deal is incentive-laden with a base value of $3.25 million). Smith-Schuster is a former Pro-Bowl wide receiver who only played in five games last season (plus a playoff game) […]

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Kansas City Chiefs made an underrated move this offseason by signing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal worth a possible $10.75 million (the deal is incentive-laden with a base value of $3.25 million).

Smith-Schuster is a former Pro-Bowl wide receiver who only played in five games last season (plus a playoff game) for the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering a shoulder injury in week five.

The former USC star had an incredible sophomore season in 2018, catching 111 passes for 1,426 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Unfortunately for Smith-Schuster, who is just 25 years old, he hasn't come anywhere close to replicating his success from 2018 in subsequent seasons.

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Jan 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Sports Illustrated, however, thinks Smith-Schuster is in store for a bounceback season in 2022 with the Chiefs.

SI recently made "100 bold predictions" for the 2022 season and they think Smith-Schuster is fixing to have his best season since 2018.

From Sports Illustrated:

Now in Kansas City, Smith-Schuster will post more than 850 receiving yards as Patrick Mahomes’s new go-to short-yardage option. He is not Tyreek Hill, but he’s a pretty darn good fallback option.

Smith-Schuster is still young, he's proved he can put up big numbers in the NFL, and he's set to take the field this season with Patrick Mahomes, the best quarterback the talented wide receiver has ever played with in his career.

All the ingredients are there for a bounceback season for Smith-Schuster in Kansas City. This could end up being one of the best signings of the offseason if Sports Illustrated's prediction comes true.

Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports