New England Patriots should add WR Jaelen Strong

The Houston Texans released WR Jaelen Strong on Monday. Should the New England Patriots add him for some depth and security?

The New England Patriots wide receivers are pretty dinged up. Julian Edelman is out for the season and Danny Amendola did not play in week 2 due to a concussion. Chris Hogan was seen limping in the game against the New Orleans Saints as well.

Right now, it seems like Hogan will be fine, but who knows when Amendola will be back. That leaves Brandin Cooks and Phillip Dorsett as the only other wideouts on the roster. Both played well, but if Hogan is knicked again and goes down, two receivers will not be enough. That’s why New England should take a chance on former Texans wideout Jaelen Strong.

Strong was released on Monday, just 6 days before the Texans face the Patriots in Foxboro.

Strong served a one-game suspension in week 1 for violating the NFL substance abuse policy, but he returned for the Texans game against the Bengals last Thursday night. He ended up playing just 20 snaps though on the struggling offense.

Strong clearly has his issues as he was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona in February 2016 on a marijuana possession charge and he’s struggled with conditioning. The Texans clearly expected more from him in Houston, but perhaps a change of scenery is needed.

The wide receiver is an Arizona State product in his third season in the NFL. Strong played 19 games for Houston over parts of three seasons with 28 catches for 292 yards and three touchdowns.

Next: A first look at the Houston Texans for week 3

New England’s thin wide receiver group could benefit from the added depth and security of having another receiver on the roster. There could be a big market for Strong though, so the price would have to be right. If the Patriots can get him cheap, expect Strong to be signed quickly as New England prepares to face his former team.