Skip to main content
Patriots Country

What options are there for Patriots to bolster their receiving room?

The Patriots have been working out receivers this week. Why not trade for one that wants out of Minnesota instead?
Devon Clements|
What options are there for Patriots to bolster their receiving room?
What options are there for Patriots to bolster their receiving room?

The New England Patriots' wide receiver room isn't quite as strong, or healthy as it was just one week ago. Between the release of Antonio Brown and a banged up Julian Edelman who has been limited thus far in practice this week, the team's passing game isn't quite at full capacity heading into a divisional game this weekend against the undefeated Buffalo Bills.

There isn't a dire need to add someone to that position group, especially when New England has Cameron Meredith coming off PUP in the near future and the chance for N'Keal Harry to come off IR in November. But it would be wise for the Patriots to add another talented receiver in the meantime in the event that injuries pile up before one of those receivers return, or if they don't pane out one way or another. 

Though the chance for New England to bring someone in from the outside and play them in their Week 4 game isn't realistic at this point, there's still an opportunity to add a player to their team to make use of going forward. Luckily for them, the NFL has a few different options to make that happen. 

In terms of free agency, New England has done their due diligence at combing through what's left in that pool. ESPN Insider Field Yates reported that the team worked out veteran Ryan Grant on Thursday, a player who was released by the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday.

Grant has had spurts of success in the NFL playing for the Washington Redskins, the Indianapolis Colts, and most recently the Raiders. He's a short, shifty wideout who excels at catching the underneath ball. Grant would likely fight with Jakobi Meyers for reps in the slot in the event that Edelman was injured/needed rest. 

If the Patriots wanted to bring in a player that was familiar with their playbook, they could bring in Maurice Harris, who was cut from the team on roster cutdown day right before the regular Sean began. But as Doug Kyed on NESB mentions, due to Harris' injury settlement with New England, he would be eligible to rejoin the Patriots until after Week 6. 

Harris was a player that stuck out during the off-season programs and during training camp because of how quickly he learned the offense and how he could play any receiver role on the field. He had a strong preseason opener against the Detroit Lions (three catches and one touchdown) but was hurt the following week during joint practices with the Tennessee Titans. His course with the team took a bad turn from there and eventually signed the injury settlement following his release.  

The last way New England could acquire a receiver is via trade. A name that comes to mind here is Minnesota Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs, who doesn't seem to be happy with his target share within a run-heavy offense in 2019, which has caused him to ask for a trade. It's still unknown if Minnesota will give in to his demands, but there's not doubt NFL teams are calling to put the feelers out about one of the better, young receivers in the league. 

With an elite combination of speed and route running ability, Diggs could be very productive within the Patriots offense. New England currently has about $1.9 million in cap space, which would make it tricky financially to acquire Diggs. Aside from what the Vikings would be looking for in return for him, as Brian Phillips of Pats Pulpit explains, if the Patriots added the maximum amount of salary-to-signing bonus conversion to Diggs' contract, it would whittle his 2019 cap hit to approximately $2.2 million. 

Free agency or resigning Harris seem like the two avenues the Patriots may venture down to acquire another receiver. Though trying to acquire Diggs may be the most exciting option, there are too many variables in play, like the discrepancy between their available cap space and his cap hit, and what the Vikings will be seeking for in exchange for him. 

Don't be surprised if you see New England sign someone like Grant, or recall upon the services of Harris. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Devon Clements
DEVON CLEMENTS

Home/GM Report