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New England Patriots, NFL Free Agency and the Robert Woods fit

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Robert Woods #2 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on January 07, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Robert Woods #2 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on January 07, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images) /
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What will the New England Patriots do at the wide receiver position this offseason?

With trade rumors surrounding DeAndre Hopkins swirling, NFL free agency buzz connected to the team’s own free agent Jakobi Meyers and 2023 NFL Draft news connecting the team to prospects like Zay Flowers, it will be an interesting March and April for the Patriots.

One player not many people are talking about is 31-year-old wide receiver Robert Woods, who was recently a cap casualty of the Tennessee Titans.

Traded to the Titans from the Los Angeles Rams prior to the 2022 NFL season, Woods was coming off a torn NFL and didn’t have the type of season in Tennessee that he had with the Rams prior to 2021.  With 53 receptions for 527 yards and 2 touchdowns, the veteran receiver still had a solid season, but it wasn’t enough to spark a 30th-ranked Titan’s offense.

Though Woods doesn’t move the needle if you are a New England Patriots fans, NFL.com’s Nick Shook sees a fit in New England and its more due to the team now having a real offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien.

In his article, “2023 NFL Free Agency Matchmaking: One fit for each AFC team”, Shook writes:

"“His one year in Tennessee didn’t live up to anyone’s expectations, and there’s no reason for Woods to subject himself to a similar situation elsewhere in his age-31 season. Now, you might be looking at the Patriots and believe he’d have similar issues in New England, but I’m looking at 2022 as an anomaly that came as a result of putting a defensive coach in charge of an offense. Bill O’Brien is back with the Patriots as their play-caller, and his track record — O’Brien oversaw an offense that threw for over 5,000 yards in his first season as OC in 2011 — suggests New England will take a step forward in 2023. Woods feels like the perfect fit opposite DeVante Parker. Mac Jones needs a veteran who he can rely on to get open; Woods is that man.”"

New England Patriots rumors: Robert Woods makes sense in this way

Although the free agency wide receiver pool isn’t that deep, there are a couple of receivers out there who would be better fits for the Patriots.  If New England goes out and gets a top receiver for Mac Jones via trade or the draft, a veteran like Woods would be a good fit as a third or fourth receiver.

Not forgetting the fact that the Patriots still have DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton, Woods is the type of wide receiver that can get open for Jones kinda in the same way Meyers did.  The exception here is Woods is quicker than Meyers and he also wouldn’t be the top target in the offense.

Next. 3 intriguing linebackers Patriots should target in 2023 NFL Free Agency. dark

In looking back at his success with the Rams, Woods was a weapon because he was a solid compliment to Cooper Kupp.  As a No. 3 option for the New England Patriots, Woods could return to that reliable receiver who was a big part of that Rams offense.  The intrigue for Bill Belichick is that he would and should come at an affordable price.

Again, the fit here depends on what the team does to acquire a true No. 1 option.

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