The Patriots have several significant needs this offseason and the New England Football Journal is breaking down each one. This installment is about wide receiver, a position that has some strong internal candidates, but could use an addition in at least one key spot.
At present, the Patriots receiving corps consists of Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and practice squad receiver Raleigh Webb. Matthew Slater is listed as a receiver but only plays special teams. Last year’s leading receiver Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor are both free agents. Agholor is unlikely to be back and Meyers will test the market with a good chance of leaving.
Essentially, Bill O’Brien currently has Bourne, Parker and Thornton to work with. In a frustrating 2022 season, Bourne was one of the most head scratching parts. After a 2021 campaign in which he had 800 yards receiving and five touchdowns, Bourne was marginalized in 2022 and finished with only 434 yards and one touchdown. Working with O’Brien will help; expect Bourne to be closer to 2021 impact and production this season. Parker added a nice outside element to the Patriots offense and Thornton flashed some athleticism. The Patriots will have a solid foundation at receiver if all three of those players can progress.
So, what do they need? The first thing New England could desperately use is a shifty slot receiver that can help move the chains. Think Troy Brown, Wes Welker and Julian Edelman. When it was 3rd and 5, they would find a way to get six yards. In the five seasons that Edelman started at least 10 games, he had at least 850 yards receiving each year. The Patriots did not have that last year and their offense suffered as a result. The team working out Slade Bolden was a good sign that the Patriots wat to get that type of player back into their offense. Whether it’s Bolden, Tank Dell or Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the draft, or someone else, it’s imperative for the Patriots to add that sort of player.
Parker can be a downfield threat and Bourne and Thornton are explosive, but none of them fit the bill as a true number one receiver that teams gameplan around. Despite popular opinion, I view this need secondary to a slot receiver like ones mentioned above. With a true chain moving slot added to an offense that improves at tackle and has Bill O’Brien running things, the New England offense will be much better. That being said, it would behoove the Patriots to explore every avenue available to get a top tier receiver. Smith-Njigba might be able to fit that bill working out of the slot. The free agent market is thin; the most likely scenario for the Patriots to add a top receiver is through trade. DeAndre Hopkins, Brandin Cooks and Allen Robinson are all available. Patriots’ fans salivate over Tee Higgins, but that is more of a long shot.
Wide receiver is not as great of a need as corner or offensive tackle, but the Patriots should make at least 1-2 significant additions to the position. The first priority should be on an effective slot, but if the right deal for a number one gamebreaker comes along New England should jump at the chance to acquire a player like that.