JuJu: Patriots 'definitely have enough' weapons for Mac Jones
New England Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster believes the team is ready to help Mac Jones bounce back from a disappointing 2022.
"We definitely have enough," Smith-Schuster said Tuesday, according to Brenna White of NFL.com. "We've got guys who can run down the field. We've got guys that can do a lot of different things.
"What's crazy about this offense that I didn't know about until I got here was that there's guys that play both ways. There's guys that can play receiver, that can play in the backfield, and seeing that you can have so many different weapons with these players, it just gives Mac these opportunities to do whatever he wants."
New England hasn't been extremely aggressive in fixing the offense despite its struggles last year, with Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki the team's top acquisitions.
The Patriots drafted two wideouts using sixth-round picks: Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas.
New England lost Jakobi Meyers - who led the team with 804 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2022 - and Nelson Agholor to the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, in free agency. The team also traded tight end Jonnu Smith to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Patriots ranked 17th in points scored last year, with Jones taking a step back after a solid 2021 rookie campaign in which he finished second for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He missed three games in 2022 and passed for 2,997 yards and 14 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. It was New England's first campaign since 2011 without offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who became the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach last year.
Smith-Schuster said he's optimistic Jones will put his game back on the right track in 2023.
"For Mac, though, the sky is the limit," he said. "With the guys that we have here and all the weapons, it's gonna be a fun year."
Smith-Schuster signed a three-year, $25.5-million contract with the Patriots after helping the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII. The 26-year-old - who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers - amassed 78 catches, 933 yards, and three TDs last season with Kansas City.
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