NFL rumors: Chiefs have major JuJu Smith-Schuster replacement in mind

The Chiefs were unable to bring back wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster but are looking forward to a promotion to replace him in free agency.

Before the NFL free agency and legal gouging period began, word was that the Kansas City Chiefs plan on wide receiver was to let Mecole Hardman walk, raise Kadarius Toney to WR1, and bring JuJu Smith-Schuster back into the fold. That last bit proved to be a hurdle for the Super Bowl champions.

Smith-Schuster signed a three-year deal with the Patriots, leaving the Chiefs in the difficult position of stepping up to the position. It seems the belief is that they won’t be able to bring Hardiman back, so what is Kansas City doing now to make sure Patrick Mahomes has guns to target?

They may have someone in mind: Odell Beckham Jr.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, as the number of suitors for Beckham seems to grow by the hour, the Chiefs are now seen as interested in the mix for the free agent wide receiver.

NFL rumours: Chiefs interested in Odell Beckham Jr. to replace Joe Smith-Schuster

Beckham created a buzz around the league late in the 2022 regular season as a potential comeback loomed and teams in need of receiver help were eager to try and sign him. As it turned out, he was not healthy enough to take the field and was left without a home.

Now his OBJ is healthy, something he demonstrated in a recent practice in front of potentially interested teams. And the chiefs must have liked what they saw given the interest now being reported.

Beckham was a shot in the arm of the Rams at the end of the 2021 regular season and into the playoffs before he suffered a torn ACL in Los Angeles’ Super Bowl victory. Even though he’s on the wrong side of the 30 now, the belief that he could be a cutting-edge WR2—especially on an offense as powerful as Kansas City—is more than reasonable.

The real key to signing Chairman Beckham will be meeting terms as OBJ reportedly wants a multi-year deal and would likely be well compensated. However, if it means putting the Mahomes in the best position to succeed with Toney, Travis Kelce, OBJ, Isiah Pacheco, etc. around him, then it will be worth it if they can make the money work.

Source link