The New England Patriots have had some amazing receivers play for their team. Let’s take a look at the 5 best to play for the franchise.
When you think of the New England Patriots you think of Tom Brady, but what about the guys who are catching the balls. The Patriots have had some amazing receivers over the years.
There is one downside to being a receiver for the Pats. People constantly say you are only good because of Brady. Tom Brady has played for a long time and some great receivers have gone along for the ride.
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But you can’t forget about the legends that were here when the franchise was younger and not as successful. You can still see some of the diehard fans wearing these guys jerseys.
So let’s take a look at the top 5 wide receivers in New England Patriots history.
(Also Randy Moss is not a New England Patriots wide receiver, he belongs to Minnesota.)
5. Irving Fryar
When you think of the best receivers in Patriots history you have to mention Irving Fryar. He was one of the first great receivers for New England.
Fryar had some steep expectations entering the NFL. He was drafted 1st overall by the Patriots in the 1984 NFL Draft.
It was a slow start for Fryar but once he got going he was a top receiver for New England. In his best season for the Patriots, he racked up 7 touchdowns and earned himself a visit to the Pro Bowl.
It may have taken a while, but Irving Fryar became a great wide receiver for the Patriots.
4. Troy Brown
There wouldn’t be a Wes Welker or Julian Edelman without Troy Brown. He was one of the first great slot wide receivers in Patriots history.
Brown saw the transition from Drew Bledsoe to Tom Brady. Imagine being in his shoes?
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Brown’s numbers speak for themselves. He played 15 seasons in New England and racked up 557 catches, 6,366 yards, and 31 touchdowns.
Just like the transition from Bledsoe to Brady, Brown’s career was filled with transitions. He started his career as a punt returner. Then he began to prove he could be a quality receiver.
We even saw Brown play defense. He lined up at corner and snatched 3 interceptions, 17 tackles, and 2 fumble recoveries.
Brown was a speedy guy who was dangerous in open space. Brown also had some stellar moments.
The Patriots played the San Diego Chargers in 2007 AFC Divisional round and it looked like the game was over. Tom Brady threw an interception late in the game. San Diego’s Marlon McCree thought he had clinched the game but Brown stripped the ball form McCree and the Patriots had a 2nd chance.
Troy Brown was one of the guys that all New England Patriots fans loved to watch.
3. Wes Welker
You may notice a progression here. Wes Welker was the new Troy Brown. The short speedy receiver who Tom Brady falls in love with.
Welker’s career exploded with the Patriots. He struggled with the Miami Dolphins and was only on the team because he was a great punt returner.
When Welker came to New England he finally became a great receiver. In 6 seasons with the Patriots (the most seasons he has played with a single team), he had 672 catches for 7,459 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Welker did most of his damage in New England. It seemed like every play Tom Brady was getting the ball. In 3 separate seasons, Welker led the league in receptions while with the Patriots.
The only negative thing you can think of when it comes to Welker is his performance in the Super Bowl.
In Super Bowl XLVI the Patriots had a chance to avenge their loss to the New York Giants in the 2007 season.
The Patriots were driving late in the 4th quarter and had an opportunity to put the game away. Welker was wide open and if he had made the catch, New England would have been in the red zone, but Welker let the ball go off his hands. Immediately he knew that he let his team down, and we all know how that game ended up.
Still, Wes Welker is one of the best wide receivers to wear a Patriots uniform.
2. Julian Edelman
With all the great moments that Julian Edelman has had he deserves this spot. Edelman has saved Super Bowl’s and been a major part of the Patriots recent success.
Edelman is a beast. For such a little guy he can sure take a beating. Edelman isn’t afraid to go over the middle and rarely fumbles the ball due to a hard hit.
So far in his career, Edelman has 499 catches for 5,390 yards and 30 touchdowns. Edelman is also now 2nd in NFL history in career postseason receptions.
Edelman also has some clutch moments. From his amazing fingertip catch in the Patriots Super Bowl victory over the Atlanta Falcons to more recently his stellar performance in the 2018 AFC Conference Championship game where he made multiple crucial catches down the stretch.
With a few more years left in his career, Julian Edelman will only improve his resume and possibly add another Super Bowl ring.
1. Stanley Morgan
A lot of younger fans may not know Stanley Morgan. His career did start in 1977 which to put things in perspective is 21 years before I was born.
Morgan’s numbers speak for themselves. In 13 seasons with the New England Patriots, Morgan had 543 catches for 10,352 yards and 67 touchdowns. He is the franchise leader in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Standing at 5’11” Morgan used his speed to get away from defenders. Even though Morgan was unable to win a Super Bowl the numbers never lie.
It is stunning that he isn’t in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. How can you deny those numbers entry into the Hall of Fame? How does a franchise’s leader receiver not have a gold jacket?
The New England Patriots have had some very talented receivers over the years that have helped to make them the amazing franchise that they are today.