Just-Released WR a Perfect Reunion Target for Patriots Ahead of Week 1

As the dust settles from the NFL's final roster cut-down day on Tuesday, some intriguing names remain available for the New England Patriots to address roster weaknesses and upgrade talent ahead of the regular season.

One such name is wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones, who was cut by the Detroit Lions on Monday.

Peoples-Jones played for the Cleveland Browns from 2020-23 under Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who held the same title in Cleveland during that time.

The 25-year-old's most productive campaign came in 2022 with the Browns, when he caught 61 passes for 839 yards and three scores while picking up 33 first downs. If the Patriots were to scoop him up, they would be hoping that a reunion with Van Pelt could help him to replicate that season's success.

Peoples-Jones was traded to his hometown Detroit Lions at the trade deadline last season and appeared in eight games with the Lions.

In 15 games total with Detroit and Cleveland last season, he caught 13 passes for 155 yards. The former Michigan Wolverine re-signed with the Lions in March before being a casualty of roster cutdowns on Monday.

Peoples-Jones can also contribute in the special teams game, as he returned punts over his three-year stint in Cleveland.

After an abysmal showing by the Pats' receivers in 2023, New England invested at the wide receiver position this offseason by re-signing veteran Kendrick Bourne to a three-year, $33 million deal and picking up receiver K.J. Osborn from the Minnesota Vikings. The team used a second-rounder on Washington wideout Ja'Lynn Polk and a fourth-rounder on UCF's Javon Baker.

New England's final 53-man roster included seven receivers: Osborn, Polk, Baker, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Reagor, DeMario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte.

Bourne, who missed the final nine games of the 2023 season with a torn ACL, began the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List. Therefore, he will not count against the team's 53-man roster for the time being and is ineligible to return until New England's Week 5 divisional showdown at Gillette Stadium against the Miami Dolphins.

When he does return, it feels fair to assume that one of the aforementioned receivers will be packing their bags to make room for Bourne's return.

Boutte would be the most likely candidate to be cut as a corresponding move for picking up Peoples-Jones. Boutte, a sixth-round pick by New England in 2023, appeared in only five games as a rookie, catching a measly two passes for 19 yards.

He also proved to be an off-field distraction - Boutte was arrested in January on charges related to placing nearly 9,000 illegal bets while playing at LSU. The charges were dropped in July. The NFL's investigation into the matter remains open.

The team also attempted some addition by subtraction, cutting ties with JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker.

With Week 1 creeping up, Peoples-Jones' familiarity with Van Pelt could make him more attractive, as he should be positioned to pick up the offense and playbook more quickly than another free agent signing might. Presumably, Van Pelt's offense in New England carries similar concepts and schemes to the one that Peoples-Jones played in with Cleveland.

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