Who Should I Start? JuJu Smith-Schuster or Marquise Brown

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.

Saturday, April 20, 1:03 PM

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach acknowledged that new wide receiver Marquise Brown could have a lucrative role with the team in 2024. With Brown now on the roster, the Chiefs feel better about their situation at the receiver position prior to the draft than they would have otherwise. Brown's role could be even more important with Rashee Rice's uncertain future following his arrest on charges stemming from a car crash in March. As things stand right now, Rice, Brown and Justin Watson are the team's top three receivers, with Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney behind them. The 26-year-old Brown, the former 25th overall pick in 2019 by the Cardinals out of Oklahoma, had two disappointing seasons in the desert in which he played in just 26 games due to injuries. But if he can stay healthy in 2024 and Rice faces a suspension, he could be a real value pick in fantasy drafts.