Wide Receivers
Starter 1 – Brandon LaFell (Bengals)
Starter 2 – Kamar Aiken (Colts)
Slot Receiver – Keyshawn Martin (Lions)
2nd String – Andre Holmes (Bills)
3rd String – Aaron Dobson (Cardinals)
Kick Returner – Brandon Tate (Bills)
Cut in Camp – DeAndre Carter (49ers), Da’Ron Brown (Chargers), Jonathan Krause (Titans)
One thing you can’t really argue based on the players above is that the Patriots don’t let high-end wide receiver talent just walk out the door. LaFell is the No.1 starter. He has had a decent career and came close to returning to his 2014 season numbers with a solid year in 2016 with the Bengals. Aiken and Holmes have both flourished in a sense since leaving New England. Aiken came close to breaking a thousand yards in 2015 and Holmes came close to 700 yards in 2014. Nothing particularly special but both are big bodied players that could use their size to out-jump cornerbacks.
Martin was a surprise cut just before the 2016 season and is a versatile receiver that can play in the slot, go deep and return kicks. Brandon Tate was a one-trick pony deep threat, with decent kick-return ability and manages to make the roster as a backup/special teamer. Dobson is brought back in as last chance, last gap attempt to see if there is any talent left.
Carter just misses out as a slot option. Brown and Krause have been on five and six teams respectively and recorded only two catches between them. Even this roster isn’t that desperate.