New England Patriots 2019 training camp primer: Wide receivers
Here’s what we don’t know…
Outside of Edelman and Dorsett, the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart as of late June reads like something of a mystery novel; only the most attentive and detail-oriented NFL and college football fans will know all the names listed there.
N’Keal Harry, Ryan Davis, Jakobi Meyers, and Gunner Olszewski are all rookies. Harry was the Patriots’ first selection with the No. 32 pick of the 2019 Draft; the other three all went undrafted and are essentially long shots to make the roster.
Harry became the first wide receiver to be drafted by Bill Belichick’s Patriots in the first round ever. Talk about pressure. He will now be expected to completely vault over the dreaded rookie learning curve and master the complex New England offense in record time, with the hope that he can start Week 1 opposite Dorsett (with Edelman in the slot).
With all due respect to Damoun Patterson, there’s only four other receivers currently on the Pats’ roster worth mentioning here as players to keep an eye on throughout training camp.
Demaryius Thomas is the biggest name, a five-time Pro Bowler who used to be mentioned in the same breath alongside other fantasy football rock star receivers like Mike Evans, Jordy Nelson, and A.J. Green. Injuries and inadequate quarterback play these past couple seasons have somewhat rusted Thomas’ reputation, but if he can make a complete recovery from his torn Achilles, he could conceivably get back to being one of the better receivers in football.
Dontrelle Inman is a veteran journeyman with a statistical career path that closely resembles Dorsett’s (bleh). Maurice Harris came over from the Washington Redskins, where he was relatively unremarkable over three seasons of limited play. Braxton Berrios is supposed to be the new big thing if he can stay healthy, but he’s going to need to do more than make a few highlight-reel catches during OTAs if he wants to ensure a roster spot.
Of course, the biggest question of all when it comes to the Patriots’ wide receiver position revolves around Josh Gordon. The talented but troubled wideout is currently in the midst of serving an indefinite suspension for his latest drug-related transgression… although it’s telling that the Patriots placed a second-round tender on him back in March, essentially keeping Gordon ready for the roster if the NFL reinstates him.
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Hopefully that day comes as soon as both Gordon and the league feel he’s ready to play again and focus on football instead of his personal demons. Gordon was New England’s leading receiver before he stepped away from the team last December; his return would galvanize this unit and instantly make it one of the better pass-catching battalions in the NFL.
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