Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Depth Chart: DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Tyquan Thornton, Kristian Wilkerson, Tre Nixon, Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Player To Watch: DeVante Parker
Breakdown: Wide receiver has been a frustrating position for the Patriots and their fans for several years. The injury and subsequent retirement of Julian Edelman and the miss of the N’Keal Harry draft pick left the position mostly bare in 2020, one of the worst groups in the NFL. Last season saw a step forward, most notably due to the addition of Bourne, who finished the year with 55 catches for 800 yards and five touchdowns. Bourne can line up inside or outside and can take a five-yard pass for 40 yards. He’s not the type that will catch 90-100 passes per season, but is always a threat with the ball in his hands. Jakobi Meyers also continued his development as a solid slot option, including his first career touchdown. Meyers is a strong blocker on the inside, which does not get him as much credit as it should.
The two big moves the Patriots made at receiver this offseason was trading for Parker and drafting Thornton in the second round. Thornton is a speedster with big play ability, but he’ll need to add a little more muscle. Parker looks to be a more immediate and significant contributor. Parker has had some health issues in his career, mostly nagging or smaller injuries. He has only played a full season once, but he has also played at least 10 games every year. That one full season was 2019, when he caught 72 passes for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns. Patriots’ fans will remember him torching the New England defense in Week 17, costing the Patriots a first round bye that year. As noted previously in the New England Football Journal, Parker will be valuable stretching defenses both vertically andhorizontally. He can run down the field for a 45-yard pass, but he can also make tough catches along the sideline that will force opponents to widen out their coverage and create more room for the Patriots tight ends, running backs, and inside receivers over the middle.
The one element still lacking in the wide receiver room for the Patriots is a shifty slot player who can pick up key first downs and be a safety outlet for Mac Jones. Think of players like Troy Brown, Wes Welker, and Julian Edelman. Meyers has had great production in the slot, but he is not that type of player. Perhaps one of the bottom of the depth chart players, such as Kristian Wilkerson, could become that guy, but I don’t see an answer presently on their roster.
Final Thoughts: The receiver group will be better in 2022 than it was in 2021. The addition of Parker is significant and he alone will help the Patriots score more points and have a better passing attack. Thornton is a wild-card, if he develops quickly the Patriots could find themselves with a top-10 group of receivers. For now, I put them closer to the middle of the pack due to the unknown with Thornton and the lack of a safety-valve slot receiver. No stars, but a lot of good players who will be difficult to defend as a group.