Richie James joined the Giants last offseason without much in the way of expectations. His career-year in 2022 has led a new pact sending him to one of the league’s best offenses, however. The veteran receiver is signing with the Chiefs, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
James started his career with the 49ers, putting up sparse numbers on offense during his first two seasons there. He demonstrated strong abilities as both a punt and kick returner during that span, however, and saw a major jump in playing time in 2020. During that campaign, he racked up 394 yards and one touchdown. A knee injury cost him the subsequent season, though, and led to his San Francisco release.
The 27-year-old headed to New York during his first opportunity at free agency, a decision which paid off for both player and team. James comfortably set new career-highs in 2022, recording 569 yards and four touchdowns on 57 catches. Each of those figures ranked him second or in a tie for first on the team in those categories, despite James logging a snap share of only 46%.
While the Middle Tennessee State product was a key member of the Giants’ passing game, the team turned elsewhere at the position with respect to in-house options who were retained. Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepard and Jamison Crowder have all re-upped with New York, whose lone outside addition to date has been Parris Campbell. More moves – either in the form of a veteran signing or a high-end prospect being added via the draft – are expected for the team.
In Kansas City, James will join the league’s No. 1 passing attack and scoring offense from last season. The Chiefs have lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman so far in free agency, leaving a vacancy for at least a depth addition. James will be compete for a role alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney in the WR room, one which could also see a more notable name brought in at some point in the near future.
Good for James! Not sorry to see him go though. It was always an adventure when the ball would go his way. His fumbling was always at the wrong time and spot on the field. He had 2 fumbles on punts with one costing the Giants a game last year. So let’s see if he even makes it out of training* camp with Andy Reid.
Can’t even afford Smith-Schuster and Hardman. This is the kind of roster construction that has teams not wanting a QB making 50 million AAV.
Ju-Ju, yes, but they didn’t WANT Hardman.
Everybody thought this team would take a step backwards when they let Tyreek go – and then they won another Super Bowl.
Richie James doesn’t appear to be a Ju-Ju equivalent, but I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt, especially since they are showing interest in DeAndre Hopkins.
They won the Super Bowl because Mahomes is amazing. I just think (and so do a lot of NFL GMs) that a QB making 50 million AAV means that you have Richie James instead of Tyreek Hill, and eventually you are the Packers. Only one team has won the SB with their QB making 25% of the team’s cap. I don’t think the Chiefs are about to win four in a row. They will have the best QB in the NFL, but not the best roster.
No team wins the Super Bowl just because of their quarterback. The Chiefs have a very well rounded roster, in spite of having a quarterback that makes $50 million. No one will expect any team to win four Super Bowls in a row.
LOL… Trading Tyreek GAVE us the ability to pay three other guys to make this roster good enough to be top 10…. Which is enough for Patrick to win with. QB IS the most important (i.e. Tom Brady). KC has ALREADY surpassed the Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers……. 5 years in the league-5 HOME FIELD AFC CHAMP GAMES… Three Superbowls-2 Wins…
fyi… KC is different than any other “contender”… We WON’T get into cap trouble (TB-PHILLY-LA RAMS) because our GM pays attention. THEY’RE all in that right now. WE’LL be top 10 in roster while the other 9 will be changing.
They lost the season WITH tyreek hill, they won the season without him and your argument is “roster construction is bad with QBs making a lot of money”?
Mahomes doesn’t even make 50M in a given year until 2026(62M cap hit). That year is the year to complain about whether or not they have a proper ability to construct a roster, not the year they grab another buy-low WR. They also brought in a LT they believe is better suited to protect Mahomes, Omenihu at DE, Tranquill at LB, Mike Edwards at S and 10 draft picks. Yeah, I think they’re just fine with how they’re currently constructing their roster.
OK! I don’t give one single rip about how the Chiefs construct their roster. Watch out, NFL…here comes Richie James!! LOL!!!
You’re literally complained about them not keeping JJSS and Hardman because they’re paying Mahomes, but Mahomes isn’t the massive cap detriment you’re claiming. Richie James isn’t a bad player, he’s not a great player.
But your initial post is complaining they can’t keep two mid-players for a lot of money and then signing a mid player for not a lot.
Wasn’t a complaint, just an observation. I’m not a Chiefs fan and don’t care how they build their roster. Just noticing that they seem to be going the way of the Packers. I’m sure the Chiefs will never not win a SB, and their cap situation is awesome.
Good still getting over that punt return fumble.