Most Important Patriots' Receiver To Re-Sign?
There's definitely a need for change when it comes to the NFL's 30th-ranked offense, but the New England Patriots need not send everyone packing.
For a team that already lacks offensive weapons, the Patriots would be wise to keep receiver Kendrick Bourne onboard. Prior to suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 8, the free-agent-to-be was on pace for a career year.
Despite missing nine games while on Injured Reserve, Bourne ended the 2024
season with the second-most receiving yards (406) amongst New England's wide receivers. He totaled 37 catches and four touchdowns in 7.5 games. He made multiple catches in all eight appearances and reached pay dirt in back-to-back weeks against Buffalo and Miami.
Only tight end Hunter Henry (6), who is also a free agent, had more touchdown receptions than Bourne in 2023. Meanwhile, JuJu Smith-Schuster, who signed a three-year deal reportedly worth $25.5 million last offseason, found the end zone only once and totaled 260 yards in his first go-round with the Patriots.
Bourne is coming off a three-year contract that paid him a total of $15 million, according to Spotrac, and his price may remain reasonable due to the ACL tear. While sixth-round rookie DeMario Douglas flashed exciting ability, the Patriots' passing game needs more than the 5-8 slot receiver. At 6-1, the 28-year-old Bourne possesses both size and experience that will only benefit the Patriots' 2024 starting quarterback, whoever that may be.
Although he never reached WR1 status, the explosive Bourne was a reliable target to the tune of a 73.4 percent catch rate over three seasons. Ideally, Bourne can regain his 2021 form when he set career highs in receptions (55) and receiving yards (800). Both numbers ranked second on the team to Jakobi Meyers, who has since left for the Las Vegas Raiders. Bourne averaged 11.4 yards per target during his first year as a Patriot.
Bourne, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, was a college teammate of Los Angeles Rams' receiver Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington. He went undrafted in 2017.
