FOXBORO — After all these years and Super Bowls rings, Bill Belichick naturally ranks among the top reasons free agents cite when asked why they signed with the Patriots.

But wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Pats’ top acquisition this offseason, had another Bill in mind when he signed his 3-year deal last March. It was his new offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien.

“When they got Bill O’Brien, it was kind of like a no-brainer,” Smith-Schuster said. “Just because I know how his system is and how it works and how he looks at offense. And (I know) Belichick, how he is as a head coach, to bring in (O’Brien) in, and Mike (Gesicki) and all those guys, it was kind of like, ‘Wow.'”

Through seven training camp practices, Smith-Schuster has established himself as the Patriots’ best and most consistent receiver. The seven-year veteran caught three passes from Mac Jones in competitive team drills Wednesday, including a late red-zone touchdown. O’Brien has primarily positioned him in the slot, Smith-Schuster’s ideal position, while fellow receivers DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne work around him.

Together, they helped drive the offense’s best practice of the summer Wednesday. Smith-Schuster partially credited the installation of O’Brien’s playbook for that progress. In recent days, several veterans have praised O’Brien for teaching them more about football, even in the later stages of their primes or careers.

“This week was kind of a review week,” Smith-Schuster said, “and going into next week and following weeks, we’ve got to keep dialing it in and mastering these plays.”

The Patriots hired O’Brien in late January after a brief coaching search.