4 Necessary Patriots Cap Casualty Cuts This Offseason

Kendrick Bourne, Wide Receiver

In my opinion, the Patriots should not cut Kendrick Bourne, and I previously mentioned how the team should look to retain him.

That being said, Bourne is getting up there in age and will be 30 before the 2025 NFL season kicks off. In addition, cutting the eight-year veteran will save the Patriots a little over $6 million (per Over The Cap), which is money that the team can use to make upgrades to its receiver room through free agency, trades, or the draft.

With the team rumored to be interested in acquiring high-profile wide receivers through free agency (Tee Higgins), trade (Cooper Kupp), and in the draft (Tetairoa McMillan), the team needs all the money it can get.

In addition, while new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels may have familiarity with Bourne, having been his OC during the 2021 season, Josh and Mike Vrabel may want to cut ties. If they do not see Bourne as a part of their team’s future, parting ways now would allow one of last year’s draft disappointments (Ja’Lynn Polk or Javon Baker) to get more reps and potentially carve out a role in the new offense.