The Patriots beefed up the wide receiver position this off-season by re-signing Kendrick Bourne and adding veteran K.J Osborn in free agency. They also drafted wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk with a second round pick and Javon Baker with a fourth round pick.
The hope is that upgrading the position will help an offense that has struggled the last two years make more big plays. Big plays have been few and far in between. In today’s football world, if you don’t make big plays, you don’t win games.
New offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will attack all three levels of the field, especially off play-action. If the Patriots can run the football effectively, they will make big plays over the top in the passing game. Polk, Baker Demario Douglas, Jalen Reagor and Tyquan Thornton could thrive in this offense as vertical threats.
On paper, the Patriots don’t have a true number one receiver but they have a talented group that could be difficult to match up against because of the diversity of the group. They can make plays in all three levels.
Health will be a key for this group. The Patriots need Bourne to bounce back and they need Thornton to stay healthy for an entire season. He needs a strong training camp or he could be the odd man out.
The offensive staff will have some tough decisions to make. At the most, the team carries six receivers. The fifth and sixth receiver would need to have special teams value to make the team. The battle for the final two roster spots will one to watch in camp.
Under Contract:
Kendrick Bourne
Ju-Ju Smith Schuster
K.J Osborn
Jalen Reagor
Tyquan Thornton
Demario Douglas
Ja’Lynn Polk
Javon Baker
Kayshon Boutte
JaQuae Jackson
Kawaan Baker
David Wallis
Positional Breakdown: The Patriots re-signed Kendrick Bourne early in free agency. Bourne is a good fit in the west coast offense and he should bounce back from a production standpoint. He is the closest thing the Patriots currently have to a number one receiver.
Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster could be that guy but outside of a couple of games last season, he did not produce. Smith-Schuster will need a strong camp to stay in New England. He fits the new system well in terms of his size and what he does well but he will plenty of competition for snaps. He could be a potential trade piece.
One of his main competitors will be K.J Osborn. Osborn is a two level threat who runs good routes, can separate after the catch and extend drives. He can play the X,Z or F depending on the personnel grouping. Osborn put up good numbers in Minnesota and should be productive in the new offense.
Jalen Reagor and Tyquan Thornton will need a strong camp if they want to make this team. Reagor has return value so that helps his case. Thornton does as well but he will need to show more on offense if he going to stick. As mentioned earlier, this is a make or break camp for him.
All eyes will be on the rookies, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Polk has the talent and skill to develop into a number one receiver. He should make an immediate impact. Same can be said for Baker who has good size and insane athleticism. He will be the big play receiver this team has lacked the past few seasons.
Speaking of big plays. Demario Douglas was the closest thing the Patriots had to a play maker last season. The diminutive Douglas is a threat in space especially in the three step passing game and perimeter screens. Douglas is the one true slot receiver on the roster and he should see an expanded role this season.
Kayshon Boutte had a good rookie camp but after not staying inbounds on a crucial catch against the Eagles in week one, he disappeared. The physical tools are there. Boutte needs to come into camp in the right frame of mind and compete. If he does, he is more than capable of making the roster.
Ja’Quae Jackson and Kawaan Baker both add size and depth to the receiver room. The Patriots have a similar type when it comes to receiver that the Packers and Browns and Jackson and Baker fill that type. David Wallis is built the same way and plays the same way.