Patriots and Key Free Agent in Disagreement on Next Contract
By Jovan Alford
The New England Patriots have the most cap space in the NFL heading into free agency as they will look to retool and revamp their roster for the 2024 season.
The Patriots have a lot of holes that they need to address, including the wide receiver spot, which left a lot to be desired this past season. New England is expected to shop veteran wide receiver DeVante Parker, but they also want Kendrick Bourne back, according to Mark Daniels of MassLive.com.
However, Daniels adds that the two sides “aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on his market value,” and it seems unlikely that New England will sign the vet wideout before Mar. 11 (when free agency opens).
The 28-year-old Bourne sadly suffered a torn ACL this past season in Week 8 after being the team’s most reliable receiving threat. The 6-foot-1 wide receiver had 37 receptions (55 targets) for 406 yards and four touchdowns.
Bourne has been one of the organization’s best free-agent signings over the last few years, as he always found a way to be productive. In his first season with the Patriots in 2021, he posted 55 receptions (70 targets) for 800 yards and five touchdowns.
Bourne’s numbers shockingly went down over the last two seasons, but other factors played a part in that decline. If the Patriots cannot re-sign Bourne, their wide receiver unit would be in serious trouble as they aren’t a top destination for the best receivers in this year’s class.
Spotrac projects Bourne’s calculated market value as a three-year, $14.6 million deal, which isn’t a horrible contract for the Patriots. However, we don’t know what is the financial situation between the two sides.
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