The Patriots have a talent issue.
That’s clear on offense. Since Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski retired, the Patriots haven’t had a true offensive threat who scares opposing defensive coordinators. The team hasn’t had a true Pro Bowl pass catcher since 2017 with Gronk. They haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2019 with Edelman.
Over the last four years, not a single player in New England hit the 900-yard receiving mark. In an era where offensive football rules, that’s unacceptable.
That’s why the Patriots need to prioritize their wide receiver position this offseason. When the NFL free agency tampering period starts on March 11, Eliot Wolf and his staff need to strike first with the top available free agent pass catchers.
One issue is that teams could very well re-sign or franchise tag their talented receivers. If that’s the case, it’ll make the market stronger for whoever is left in free agency. If the Patriots are going to get their offense back on track, they need an elite pass catcher. With the No. 3 pick, they could target Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., but the problem with passing up a quarterback in the draft is that you need someone to throw your receivers the ball.
That’s why it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots prioritize adding a top-flight receiver in free agency.
Here’s a look at the five best fits for the Patriots:
BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS
STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org.
Tee Higgins
There’s a legitimate possibility that Higgins is franchise tagged by the Bengals. If he’s not, this 25-year-old is the best available receiver in free agency. He’s a 6-foot-4 deep threat who’s excelled in the Bengals offense. Injuries played him last season, which is why his numbers (656 yards and five touchdowns) were down. As Cincinnati’s No. 2, Higgins had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022. He caught over 900 yards as a rookie in 2020. Higgins projects as a No. 1 receiver and nightmare matchup in most offenses.
Michael Pittman
It would also be a surprise if the Colts let Pittman leave Indianapolis. He’s a 6-foot-4 outside receiver with great hands (69% catch percentage in his career). Pittman had a career-high 109 receptions with 1,152 yards and four touchdowns last season. That happened with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew starting most of the games. A second-round pick in 2020, he had his first 1,000-yard season in 2021 and has excelled with average and below-average quarterback play. Pittman would give the Patriots a No. 1 receiver with Pro Bowl potential.
Mike Evans
If the Patriots want to usher in their new offense with an experienced No. 1 receiver, they should look at Evans. He’ll be 31-year-old in August, but this 6-foot-5 outside receiver would be a great fit with a rookie quarterback. Evans has 10-straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Second Team All-Pro. Evans caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards and led the NFL with a career-high 13 touchdown catches. Evans would fix the Patriots offensive talent issues, but he’s a short-term solution due to his age.
Calvin Ridley
A year off from football (due to a suspension) didn’t slow down Ridley. This 29-year-old outside receiver finished with 76 receptions, 1,016 yards, and eight touchdowns in his first season with the Jaguars. If the Patriots don’t land one of the three above receivers, Ridley would be a great fit. He was suspended for a year due to gambling, but he’s a talented playmaker. A former Second Team All Pro, Ridley is a No. 1 receiver and would add some much-needed talent to the Patriots offense.
Marquise Brown
If the Patriots don’t land one of the above four No. 1 receivers, they need to turn their attention to the second group of free agents. Buffalo’s Gabriel Davis and Chicago’s Darnell Mooney are options, but here we go with Brown. The 26-year-old is undersized at 5-foot-9 and coming off a down season in Arizona (574 yards and four touchdowns) but has been productive in different systems with multiple quarterbacks. He finished with 1,008 yards in 2021 in Baltimore. He’s an outside receiver with home run ability and the Patriots could use a veteran like that.
