May 20, 2024
ANALYSISSmith-Schuster said the last 12 months have made a "big difference," and he estimated that last offseason he was only at 60 percent health due to a lingering knee injury. Across 11 games in 2023, he was an afterthought in New England's offense, finishing with just a 29-260-1 receiving line despite little established competition at the position. If truly healthier and now able to move better, Smith-Schuster could earn more consistent targets from
Jacoby Brissett and
Drake Maye, though the Patriots' wide receiver corps has gotten more crowded with the additions of rookies
Ja'Lynn Polk and
Javon Baker, plus free-agent addition
K.J. Osborn.