New England Patriots 2021: Early projections of team’s starting offense
New England Patriots wide receivers
The Patriots invested heavily in free agency to bring in two receivers, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne to bolster one of the league’s worst wide receiver rooms.
They will join Jakobi Meyers, former first-round pick N’Keal Harry, and Gunner Olszewski as the best of the rest.
With the investments made in Agholor and Bourne, they and Meyers would clearly have the inside track on starting.
Should the Patriots use two wide-receivers in the starting offense in a one-back set, the likely starters would likely be Agholor and Meyers, although a strong camp from the effervescent and really likable Bourne could win the spot from Meyers.
Clearly, Harry is on the proverbial bubble. A training camp trade is not out of the realm of possibility for the now third-year former first-round pick should Bourne show well in camp.
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The grade here is: B-. The Patriots still need a No. 1 receiver and hopefully, they will make a move before the season starts to secure one.
New England Patriots tight ends
The 2020 New England Patriots tight end room was arguably the worst in the NFL. Their best, Ryan Izzo caught 18 passes and was shipped out on a trade this offseason. The other two tight ends, rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene caught five passes between them.
Finally, in recognition that neither a wing and a prayer nor the draft was going to remedy this situation, the team made two bold moves in free agency.
They went out and signed arguably the two best tight ends on the free-agent market first in Jonnu Smith and then Hunter Henry. It’s guaranteed, Cam Newton will love these guys.
Signing just one of these talents would have been looked upon as a major positive move, but to land two is a fantastic upgrade not only of the tight end room but for the entire offense.
Combined, they caught 101 passes last season. Now in light of last season’s 23, that’s a healthy upgrade indeed of a position that the Patriots love to exploit.
So, that being pointed out, it’s more likely than not the Patriots will utilize a two-tight-end set early, and often meaning both Smith and Henry will be on the field to start.
The ramifications will come with the wide receivers likely being reduced to one starter a good portion of the time. That one will likely be Agholor.
The grade here is: A++. Smith and Henry will be a dynamic duo and will help transform the entire offense.