Most believe the Patriots still need to add talent to a mediocre wide receiver depth chart – specifically a true go-to, No. 1 option.
But, ESPN has a different perspective on New England’s pass catchers. In a newly-posted piece predicting “14 post-draft moves” across the NFL, ESPN proposes that the Patriots could look to trade away one of the team’s veteran receivers, specifically Kendrick Bourne.
“Bill Belichick probably has too many secondary and tertiary options in his passing game,” ESPN writer Bill Barnwell declares. “Given how Bourne fell out of favor with the organization last season, I wonder whether the Patriots would consider moving him for help elsewhere, like possible offensive line depth. Bourne's making a reasonable $5.5 million in 2023, none of which is guaranteed. Could he end up somewhere like Houston, especially if John Metchie III -- who is expected to return after missing 2022 with leukemia -- doesn't start the season on the active roster?”
While it’s true that the Patriots seemingly have a number of complementary options, it’s not like the depth chart is overrun with capable bodies. Newcomer JuJu Smith-Schuster will obviously have a key role, seemingly filling Jakobi Meyers’ spot even if the two players have different skills sets.
Then there are Bourne, DeVante Parker and second-year second-round pick Tyquan Thornton.
That’s only four veterans for likely five roles/roster spots. Sure, maybe late-round rookies like Kayshon Boutte or Demario Douglas will be in the mix. Maybe Ty Montgomery will return from IR to steal some sort of pass-catching role. Maybe Mike Gesicki is seen as a receiver roster spot/role by the powers that be.
But trading away Bourne – who two years ago was arguably the best playmaker in the Patriots passing game when he notched career highs with 55 receptions for 800 yards (14.5 avg.) with five touchdowns in his first season in New England – would still seem strange. That’s especially true given that Bourne’s disappointing 2022 season came in the dysfunctional world of the offense run by career defensive mind Matt Patricia, who is no longer with the organization.
Unless a Bourne trade coincides with another move to bring in a receiver – ESPN also predicts that the Broncos could still trade one of their pass catchers and New England has already reportedly shown interest in Jerry Jeudy – it’s hard to envision new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien heading toward a season of supposed rebirth of the Patriots passing game with Smith-Schuster, Parker and Thornton as the only veteran options on the depth chart.
Certainly New England is still a work in progress in the passing game and at receiver in particular. But trading away Bourne at this point – dumping his relatively minimal $5 million contract – wouldn’t seem to be progress, unless he has truly and completely worn out his welcome at Gillette.