The expected facelift for the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver room isn’t going to be quite as dramatic this offseason after all. While some faces will be switched out, the team has made an effort to bring back some familiar names to maintain continuity.

The latest re-signing for the Chiefs was announced on Saturday with an offer for JuJu Smith-Schuster, per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.

Smith-Schuster returned to the Chiefs last season after flaming out with the New England Patriots after a single season played of a multi-year deal. While he played in 14 games and even started eight, the truth is that Smith-Schuster played a much lesser role in the team’s offensive plans than the past might have suggested. He finished the year with only 18 catches for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Smith-Schuster had previously played for the Chiefs in a stellar 2023 campaign that rebuilt his value on the open market and featured a Super Bowl victory. That season, he had 78 catches on 101 targets and was a go-to weapon time and again for Patrick Mahomes. However, injuries have taken a toll on Smith-Schuster and the Chiefs have found younger pass-catchers emerging like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.

Still, Smith-Schuster is a trusted target who is an excellent blocker and remains a valuable component for the Chiefs on offense as part of the greater whole. With the loss of Justin Watson, who could also fit that description in part, it made sense to bring back Smith-Schuster to maintain offensive continuity and valued experience.

The Chiefs have lost Justin Watson and DeAndre Hopkins already this offseason, but they’ve also now brought back Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown. Mecole Hardman remains a free agent, and it remains to be seen if he will also be given a path back to Kansas City in 2025.

Smith-Schuster entered the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and spent his first five seasons in the league with them from 2017 to 2021.