3 Patriots on the Chopping Block With Josh McDaniels as Offensive Coordinator

3. Kendrick Bourne

After spending his first four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Kendrick Bourne decided to move across the country and sign a multi-year deal with the New England Patriots during the 2021 free-agency period. During that season, Bourne had a career year–catching 55 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns. Since then, Bourne has not come close to matching those numbers.

Last season, after returning from a torn ACL which he suffered in 2023, Bourne had 26 catches for 293 yards and one touchdown.

Before last season, Bourne was rewarded by the Patriots with a three-year, $33 million extension. With his best days presumably behind him, the team may look to cut ties (via trade or waivers) as doing so would save the team millions.

While financially it would make sense for the team to cut ties with Bourne, his saving grace may be the team’s new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who also had the same role during the 2021 season.

While the Patriots have the most cap space in the NFL and are rumored to be interested in acquiring receivers from outside the organization (most notably Tee Higgins, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals), I hope Josh McDaniels retains Kendrick Bourne and can get the 2021 version of him.

While the future of these three Patriots remains uncertain, new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is one of the best offensive minds in the league and will get the best out of the skill-position players for his franchise quarterback Drake Maye.

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