The list of wide receivers still under contract on the New England Patriots basically starts and ends with Julian Edelman.
Heading into the 2019 offseason, it is apparent that the New England Patriots need to make some sizable moves in order to contend for their seventh Super Bowl title.
A lot was made of the fact that the Patriots did not surround Tom Brady with enough talent on offense and this is the year where they should make up for it.
The Patriots have a couple of different avenues to give Brady the weapons he needs.
Re-signing options
Phillip Dorsett, Chris Hogan, Cordarelle Patterson and Josh Gordon are all free agents heading into the offseason.
Out of these four players, Dorsett makes the most sense to re-sign. He was not used much last season but was effective when he was. He logged 32 receptions on 42 targets for a catch percentage of 76.2 percent which would have ranked sixth among wide receivers last season. I say “would have,” because he was one target shy of the minimum to qualify for that statistical rank.
Who’s to say that this would carry out with a larger sample size. It may, it may not. It is clear however, that Dorsett knows the offense and seems to have solid chemistry with Brady when he decides to throw to him.
Having familiarity, on an offense that will be largely comprised of new faces, will help things run smoothly. Dorsett could be a solid option as a number three or four wide receiver.
Josh Gordon could also be an option as a restricted free agent, but his suspension status with the NFL is still defined as “indefinite” as he continues to recover and rehabilitate from his substance abuse problem.
Free Agent targets
Golden Tate should be the New England Patriots top target on the free agent market.
Tate, who was discussed as a possible trade target at last season’s trade deadline, would seemingly fit in well with what the Patriots do on offense. He is reliable, talented and would compliment Julian Edelman’s game well.
Tate’s projected market value is somewhere in the neighborhood of $10.2 million, but you know what you’re getting with him. Tate in 2018 had 74 receptions for 795 yards (10.7 YDS/REC) and four touchdowns.
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Another slot receiver, Adam Humphries, could be an excellent option for them. Coming off his best season, Humphries will be expected to be in for a big pay day. His projected market value is around $10.4 million.
A quick look at his 2018 stats shows that he is quite comparable to Tate on paper. Humphries in 2018 had 76 receptions for 816 yards (10.7 YDS/REC) and five touchdowns.
Humphries is a better option if the Patriots want to go young (He is 26 and Tate is 31). With a relatively older roster this might be the right move especially with Humphries seemingly entering his prime. Although Tate’s toughness on the field is a desirable characteristic that sets him apart.
Demaryius Thomas is an attractive option for the Patriots if they want to add a veteran to their receiving core. His age and dip in production will bring his market value down some and the Patriots love finding value wherever they can.
Some solid guys for under a million bucks include Jamison Crowder from the Redskins, Jordan Mathews from Philadelphia and Breshad Perriman from the Browns, which could be nice cheap pieces to round off the receiving core.
Danny Amendola is most likely to be cut from the Miami Dolphins and would provide chemistry and knowledge of the system right off the bat, but his contract may be a little high and his comments about Belichick on his way out the door may have burned that bridge. It is still nice to think about the possibility of Amendola returning.
If the New England Patriots could have Julian Edelman, Golden Tate, Phillip Dorsett and two of the three guys I mentioned for under a million bucks, then I think they would be fine. To be more than fine, they should make a trade for a big name.
Free agency begins on March 13 at 4:00 pm est.
For the full list of free agent wide receivers click here.
Trade targets
As far as options outside on the trade market go, the rumors seem to be endless.
Odell Beckham Jr.’s name has been circulating around the New England Patriots, conjuring mixed feelings from fans and media personnel alike. It is clear he could add a level of dynamism to the offense, but would the off the field drama and the massive contract be worth it?
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are both known to be fond of the 26-year-old superstar wide receiver, but the Patriots typically do not overpay for that position and their “aggressive” push for Beckham last off-season came before he signed his five-year, $95 million contract with $65 million in guaranteed money.
The other big name wide receiver on the trade market is of course, Antonio Brown. The Pittsburgh Steelers have already made it known that they prefer not to trade Brown to AFC North rivals or the Patriots and would like to send him to the NFC for “competitive reasons.” So that ship has seemingly sailed and maybe that is for the best anyway.
Some talk about Julio Jones and the Patriots has circulated. Brady to Jones would be one of the all time great pairings in the league. Freak athletic ability and speed with Brady’s knowledge of the game and accuracy. The two of them would tear up the league, however it appears that Jones will likely stay put in Atlanta, but it’s fun to dream.
There are many options for the Patriots who will certainly be busy contacting agents and GM’s in the next few months. Who do you think the New England Patriots should go after in the off-season?