New England Patriots: The case against re-signing Chris Hogan
With NFL free agency approaching, should the New England Patriots consider re-signing wide receiver Chris Hogan?
The New England Patriots will have some decisions to make once the official NFL offseason begins. One of those decisions will be whether to re-sign wide receiver Chris Hogan or move on from the former lacrosse player.
In three seasons with the Patriots, Hogan has been living the life of luxury since coming over from the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills. Not only has he had the opportunity to catch balls from Tom Brady, he has been to three consecutive Super Bowls and won two with the current defending champions.
While Hogan was a key contributor during his first and second seasons with the teams, he seemed to have fallen out of Brady’s circle of trust in 2019. In a season when the Patriots really needed him to step up, Hogan caught just 35 passes for 532 yards and three touchdowns. Not bad for a third or fourth receiver, but big things were expected from Hogan.
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With Julian Edelman serving a four-game suspension to start the season, along with the departure of Danny Amendola, it was important for Chris Hogan to have the breakout year many were predicting, especially in a contract year. That simply didn’t happen.
There were times he appeared frustrated on and off the field and times he showed flashes of the receiver he was in his first season with the Patriots.
According to Pro Football Focus, the eye test on Hogan’s disappointing season was confirmed as he ranked worst on the team when lined up as an outside receiver. With that being the one area of need the New England Patriots are looking to address, it does appear Hogan’s days are over.
Honestly, the Patriots should move on from Chris Hogan
The case against
Despite playing in all 16 games in 2018, Hogan only played in nine games in 2017. Can the Patriots rely on him staying healthy? It certainly depends on his role.
If he can be had at a cheaper price, Hogan as a third or fourth option depending on depth is not a bad option. Otherwise, he will not be worth bringing back especially if the team has a chance to bring back Danny Amendola.
Like both Edelman and Amendola, Chris Hogan is on the other side of 30, but unlike those two receivers, he doesn’t have the same ability to play in the slot and separate from defenders in tight spots.
Furthermore, Hogan does not contribute in special teams. If there was ever a case to keep him, it would’ve been his versatility.
Potential landing spots
Other teams in the AFC East will take a look at Chris Hogan. Depending on the market, another team could overspend for the veteran receiver, which is something the New England Patriots won’t do.
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Besides possible the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets (don’t see him returning to Buffalo), the Denver Broncos could be a good landing spot for Hogan.
In summary, if Chris Hogan does return to the New England Patriots, it will be on a cheaper deal and he may also have to fight to make the 2019 roster.