New England Patriots offensive approach is stuck in the past
By Chris Wilson
After a playoff berth behind rookie quarterback Mac Jones in 2021, the New England Patriots could not find the same success in 2022. New England’s 8-9 season came down to their inability to consistently pass the ball.
Jones and the Patriots did not blow defenses away in 2021, but they did enough to win games. The offense ranked 15th in the league with 353.4 yards per game in 2021. Meanwhile, Jones led the Pats to the 14th-best passing offense with a modest 226.9 passing Y/G.
Those numbers dropped significantly in 2022 with only 314.6 total Y/G (26th) and 208 passing Y/G (20th). The Patriots never threatened a downfield attack, which led to their downfall.
New England Patriots are falling behind
New England’s last 1,000-yard receiver came in 2019 with Julian Edelman racking up 1,117 receiving yards on 100 receptions. With no receiving threat on the roster, the Patriots tried to rebuild their offense in free agency.
During the 2021 offseason, the Patriots dished out a total of $124.5 million to Hunter Henry, Kendrick Bourne, Jonnu Smith, and Nelson Agholor.
The four showed promise in 2021 with a combined 2,170 receiving yards, 170 receptions, and 18 receiving touchdowns. However, those numbers plummeted to a combined 1,550 receiving yards, 134 catches, and five receiving touchdowns in 2022.
Investing resources into two Tight Ends and good Wide Receivers rather than one game-changing pass catcher has not worked out.
The Miami Dolphins took a different approach by trading away multiple picks to acquire Tyreek Hill. The former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver rewarded Miami with 1,710 receiving yards, 119 receptions, and seven receiving touchdowns.
Miami gave up multiple picks to acquire Hill, but the All-Pro receiver single-handedly out-produced New England’s four receiving options in 2022.
In 2021, the Dolphins had the 14th-best passing offense (214.8 Y/G), but they jumped to the fourth-best (265.4 Y/G) in 2022 after acquiring Hill.
New England Patriots need to make a blockbuster trade
Other teams have seen their offense take a massive leap with a blockbuster trade. The Buffalo Bills acquired Stefon Diggs in 2020, and Josh Allen has passed for 4,200+ yards and 35+ touchdowns in every season since then.
After trading for A.J. Brown last offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles came within a few plays of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
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The Patriots need to follow in the footsteps of teams like the Dolphins, Bills, and Eagles by making a blockbuster trade to acquire a difference-maker on the offensive side of the ball.
Media and fans alike have speculated about the availability of Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Tee Higgins, but Duke Tobin, Cincinnati’s Director of Player Personnel, quelled these rumors at the NFL Scouting Combine,
"“I’m not in the business of making other teams better,” he said. “They want a receiver? Go find your own.”"
You can never say never in the NFL, as the Bengals could trade Higgins for the right price, but the Patriots have plenty of options.
The Washington Commanders could make Terry McLaurin available if New England offers their first-round pick. Washington has an open spot at Quarterback, so an extra first-round pick could help them move up in the draft to select one of the top prospects.
New England could also make a call to Carolina to inquire about D.J. Moore. The Panthers do not have a solid option at quarterback either, and a high-valued draft pick could aid them in their search.
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The new league year starts on March 15, and the trade candidate pool could widen then. Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams reset the market with their contracts, which could lead top receivers to look elsewhere for their payday.
If the New England Patriots can start the 2023 season with a true number-one receiver on their roster, they will find playoff success again.