the greg hill show: They Said It: Everyone thinks the Pats dropped the D-Hop ball badly
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Patriots didn’t land DeAndre Hopkins.
The free agent wide receiver is instead signing with the Tennessee Titans, and leaves New England relying on veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, and Kendrick Bourne among others to carry the load.
By all accounts, New England is happy with their room and, according to the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan, “are higher on themselves than outside consensus” heading into this season.
However, if they were in on one free agent pass-catcher, perhaps they may still be in the market. If that’s the case, here are five options they could consider bringing into training camp next week:
Jarvis Landry
A second-round pick in 2014, the former LSU Tiger is now on the wrong side of 30 but may have enough left in the tank to make an impact in 2023.
Landry is a true slot receiver and could cement himself as a security blanket for Mac Jones on the inside, potentially fitting in well with the versatile receivers already in the room in Smith-Schuster and Bourne.
Kenny Golladay
Kenny Golladay came onto the scene several years ago in Detriot when he put up back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons for the Lions in 2018 and 2019.
After an injury-riddled 2020, the Giants gave him a four-year, $72 million contract, and he hasn’t been the same since. Over two seasons in New York, the 6-foot-4 big-bodied receiver caught just 43 passes for 602 yards and a touchdown. He was cut this March.
If the Patriots want a cheap, outside, possession receiver who's looking to re-shape his image (which they already wanted in Hopkins), then Golladay could be their plan B.
Just don’t give him a big money deal. We know how that turns out.
Julio Jones
Speaking of big-bodied, possession receivers - Julio Jones is also a free agent.
Once considered the best wide receiver in the National Football League, Jones was traded from the Falcons to the Titans ahead of the 2021 season and spent the last year with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
New England was connected to Jones when he was looking to be shipped out of Atlanta. Maybe now's the time they pounce.
Sammy Watkins
Another receiver on the wrong side of 30, Sammy Watkins has been quite the journeyman since being taken with the fourth overall pick by Buffalo in 2014.
The former Clemson Tiger has played with the Bills, Rams, Chiefs, Packers, and most recently the Ravens over his nine-year career.
He’s only eclipsed 1,000 yards once, mostly due to health, but could potentially add some insurance to an already injured Patriots receiver room.
N’Keal Harry
Hear me out.
Harry was drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has been the definition of a bust. He's eclipsed over 200 yards just once and after a dominant college career at Arizona State where he hauled in 22 touchdowns, has just five scores as a pro.
Although things didn't end on good terms after he requested and subsequently received a trade out of Foxborough, Harry is familiar with the Patriots organization and the area.
If they're looking for a cheap camp body who could slide right in, maybe they'd consider giving Harry a call.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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