Reduced Receivers: Who Are Viable Options For Patriots?
You salivate over DeAndre Hopkins, Deebo Samuel or maybe even Odell Beckham.
But, admit it, as a fan of the New England Patriots, you know in the end you'll likely have to settle for a lesser free agent such as Jerry Jeudy, Brandin Cooks or Keenan Allen.
Even with Mac Jones desperate for a primo target and last season's leading receiver Jakobi Meyers about to hit free agency, it's unrealistic to think Bill Belichick will go off-script and mortgage draft picks and/or high salaries for an elite receiver. The man, after all, cherishes "value" almost as much as bland hoodies and being gruff.
But the Patriots need a playmaker. At any position, really. Their defense played at a Super Bowl-level for most of last season. Even so, the offense managed 17 fewer touchdowns in 2022 than 2021.
But who is a realistic option for New England new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien?
Jeudy was a college teammate of Jones' at Alabama, but is new Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton really going to part with his new team's best receiver considering all the offensive problems last year?
Allen is a legitimate option, especially if he's cut by the Los Angeles Chargers who are almost $20 million over the salary cap. In that scenario, Allen could come cheap and immediately be New England's top receiver.
Cooks desperately wanted out of Houston last season and at one point was convinced he was being traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Now that the Texans essentially own April's NFL Draft, he might be expendable. Belichick certainly covets the productive season Cooks had in Foxboro in 2017.
Let the bargain-hunting begin.
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