Obviously, the Patriots were extremely active this offseason, adding players all across their roster.
Multiple positions were upgraded, including some in a big way. But, when it comes to wide receiver, despite a few additions, it feels like there is still work to be done.
New England added Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, which now has a wide receivers depth chart of: Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Jakobi Meyers, Agholor, Borune, Gunner Olszewski, Isaiah Zuber, Kristian Wilkerson and Devin Smith.
While it’s certainly better than it was last season, it feels like there’s a bunch of 2s and 3s. Edelman is going to be 35 years old in May and is coming off missing the majority of last year due to a knee injury. He’s not even a lock to play in 2021. Harry, of course, has been a major disappointment and reportedly is on the track block. Agholor put up No. 1 wide receiver like numbers last year in Las Vegas, but it feels like that was a byproduct of it being a contract year and isn’t something sustainable. And then Meyers and Bourne are good players to have on a roster, but it’s hard to imagine them being more than a true No. 3.
Clearly, a No. 1 wide receiver is needed, but acquiring one will be easier said than done.
All the top free agents are off the board, so the only way a veteran would be added is via trade and those are hard to come by. What feels more likely may scare some — drafting a wide receiver in the first round.
Bill Belichick hasn’t had a great track record with wide receivers in the draft, most recently Harry in Round 1 of 2019, but this is supposed to be another terrific class and could play into the Patriots’ hands at No. 15 overall.
With a run at quarterback expected in the top 10, some tremendous talent will likely fall to the middle of the first round, potentially at wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase (LSU), Jaylen Waddle (Alabama), Devonta Smith (Alabama) and Rashod Bateman (Minnesota) are the four best wideouts in the draft and it would seem at least two would be available for New England when it is on the clock.
It was noteworthy that Josh McDaniels accompanied Belichick at Alabama’s pro day Tuesday, so maybe they are looking into Waddle and Smith, although it’s worth pointing out Waddle did not do any drills.
While Mac Jones got the majority of attention, perhaps the Patriots were doing their best to gather as much intel on the Alabama wide receivers as possible.
Some may say how does a rookie all of a sudden become the Patriots’ No. 1 receiver? Just look at the top rookie wide outs from the last several years. They are fully capable of making immediate impacts and changing offenses.
It also feels like with all the additions the team made this offseason, how could it go into the season with the current group of wide receivers and not have a true No. 1 option?
New England’s wide receiver depth chart is certainly better than it was a year ago, but it feels like it isn’t quite complete.
Give it a month or so, then it might be.