5 Patriots Who Should Be Traded to Rebuild for 2024
By Randy Gurzi
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3. Kendrick Bourne, Wide Receiver
An Eastern Washington product, Kendrick Bourne started out as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers and became a trusted option in their aerial attack. He put up his best season with the Niners in 2020 when he hauled in 49 receptions for 667 yards with two touchdowns.
He then hit free agency and the Patriots brought him in on a three-year deal worth $15 million. He made an immediate impact with 800 yards and five touchdowns on 55 receptions, proving to be well worth the $5 million per year average.
Since then, he hasn't been targeted as much. He had just 35 receptions for 434 yards in 2022 and so far in the first five games of 2023, he has just 18 receptions for 218 yards — although he has scored two touchdowns. Those two scores came in Week 1 when he had six receptions for 64 yards and appeared ready for a big campaign.
His decline over the past few weeks isn't solely on him though. The truth is, Mac Jones has been struggling under center and while this offense isn't exactly frightening, he hasn't been able to get it done. That means Bourne could still have value — especially to a team that might have recently suffered an injury at wide receiver.