New England Patriots shouldn’t stop at just acquiring 1 wide receiver
The New England Patriots need a dual wide receiver acquisition strategy this offseason to take Mac Jones passing attack to another level. New England’s passing game was lacking last season with only 22 touchdown passes being thrown by their precocious rookie quarterback Jones.
While that should be excused to some extent due to Jones’ inexperience, there is no doubt whatsoever that the team lacked a true No.1 receiver and that needs to be remedied this offseason. Before the boo-birds take flight, let’s explore why the New England Patriots need to focus on acquiring multiple wide receivers this offseason.
New England Patriots offense needs wide receiver help
Newly installed Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh has numerous needs he has to fill this offseason if the team is to close the chasm in talent between the Pats and the Buffalo Bills. The problems Groh faces are the Patriots lack of cap space and the fact that they don’t currently have sufficient draft picks (only six) to bring in the fresh young talent required.
Focusing on one position of need (there are many), the wide receiver, is a bit myopic. Yet, it could be a game-changer for the Patriots’ offense. Here’s how it might work.
Groh needs to free up cap space to sign one of the top wide receivers available. That won’t be easy. It involves cutting ties with long-time players and/or unproductive ones. Assuming he can do that, what comes next?
Then, he should sign one of the top free-agent wide receivers available. They include Chris Godwin, Allen Robinson, Davante Adams, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Amari Cooper. Some or all may be available in a couple of weeks. Anyone on that list would be costly. This is why there will be the pain of releasing or trading long-time popular players, some of whom have been standouts.
Assuming that’s done, the second aspect of the strategy can be implemented. Now before embarking on this, let’s make one thing perfectly clear. The New England Patriots have numerous needs all over the field.
They possess lots of roster players who are not at the required levels. There will be strong competition in-house for scarce resources in free-agent money and draft picks. For the sake of argument, assume that wide receiver is one of those key positions that need to be addressed.
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Last offseason, the team spent significantly to upgrade the position with mixed results. They scored with the signing of Kendrick Bourne who had a nice season. Conversely, they flopped on the more costly signing Nelson Agholor.
Agholor’s 37 catches didn’t measure up.
Agholor should be traded or if likely that’s impossible, released to save almost $5M on the cap. The free-agent receiver signed would immediately step into Agholor’s spot. That’s Phase One.
New England Patriots also draft for the future
Phase two entails drafting a top receiver with one of the team’s top two picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Fortunately, it’s a draft loaded with talent at the position. It’s a heavy investment in the position, but it could be well worth it.
That player could be one of the two stellar Alabama products, Jameson Williams or John Metchie III. Both Alabama stars suffered late-season ACL tears in 2021 and each will likely have his draft status lowered as a result.
That eventuality may allow the Patriots to select one of these top talents lower in the draft. This works since the team would have already sewn up its #1 wide receiver position in free agency.
The Patriots would then be in the enviable position of securing a top value at pick No. 21 or maybe with a lower first or high second-round pick after trading down to acquire more draft capital to meet other needs.
Current top receiver, Jakobi Meyers is a restricted free agent. The strategy is even more essential if he is not re-signed, though he likely will be given his status as a RFA. Yet even if he is, having signed a true No. 1 receiver (which Meyers is not) in free agency will allow the Patriots to wait for Williams or Metchie until later in the season without suffering unduly in the process.
Next. Amari Cooper could help the Patriots offense explode. dark
Implementation means the Patriots will be loaded at the wide receiver position allowing them to take full advantage of Jones’ pinpoint accuracy. That’s the strategy. No doubt, it incurs opportunity costs – they can’t use the cap room and draft pick on other needs. Yet, it will provide lots of firepower for their young Pro-Bowl quarterback.
What do you think of this suggested dual wide receiver offseason strategy? We’d like to hear.