Who Should I Start? JuJu Smith-Schuster or Brandon Powell

Thursday, May 2, 2:33 PM

Starting next month, the New England Patriots could cut wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster at a cost of $9.6 million in dead money and no salary cap relief, per Over the Cap, while releasing him before then would incur $2.6 million more in dead money and take a small chunk out of their league-leading $54 million cap room. If the Pats traded Smith-Schuster after June 1, they'd save almost $7 million in cap space and clear room for their young receivers to see more playing time. New England could prioritize playing time for rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, plus 2023 sixth-rounder Demario Douglas. It all means that Smith-Schuster may no longer be the team's No. 2 receiver, especially with Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn also on the roster.

Monday, April 29, 2:52 PM

Following this year's NFL draft in which the Minnesota Vikings didn't take a single receiver, Brandon Powell, Jalen Nailor and Trent Sherfield are all candidates to fill the No. 3 receiver role heading into the 2024 season. All-Pro Justin Jefferson is the team's unquestioned No. 1, with second-year man Jordan Addison settling in as the No. 2 after a strong rookie campaign in 2023. K.J. Osborn left for the New England Patriots in free agency this offseason. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is coming off a torn ACL, so Powell could see more looks early on in 2024 if he actually wins the No. 3 job in training camp this summer. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Florida set career-highs in catches (29) and receiving yards (324) with one touchdown in 17 games (two starts) in his first year in Minnesota in 2023.