The Patriots new and improved receiving core is overcrowded

The New England Patriots made a trade early Tuesday morning for Atlanta Falcons receiver, Mohamed Sanu. They also have their first round draft pick and fellow receiver, N’Keal Harry set to return in two weeks. With the addition of these two guys, the Patriots will have seven receivers on the active roster, as opposed to the traditional six that most teams have. They have also added a special teamer since the addition of Sanu, which means the Patriots have to clear up two roster spots, and that’s before Harry is deemed eligible to suit up for games.

New England is not afraid of being unorthodox with any aspect of their team, but it is highly unlikely that they will hang on to all seven of those guys once Harry is added to the active roster. When he does return, the active receivers will be:

Josh Gordon

N’Keal Harry

Julian Edelman

Phillip Dorsett

Mohamed Sanu

Jakobi Meyers

Gunner Olszewski

Of those guys, it’s safe to assume that the top five have the best chance of keeping their place on the roster. Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski suddenly find themselves in a position where they must fight for the last receiver spot. Meyers played well against the Jets on Monday night and has proven to be a valuable target for Brady. His targets have been limited, but he has made plays when he is on the field. Olszewski has found most of his playing time on special teams, specifically on punt return. He has done a decent job in that role outside of a muffed punt in week three against the Jets that resulted in a touchdown, but he has been a non-factor for New England’s offense. Because the offense is the phase that New England is looking to improve, Olszewski may see his days as a Patriot come to an early end.

If Gunner does end up being the odd man out, who would take over the punt returning duties? Julian Edelman has filled that role for the majority of his career, but has been battling injuries all season, so he probably would not be Belichick’s first choice. Phillip Dorsett, who has become one of Brady’s favorite targets, may find himself stepping up as the new punt returner. When Dorsett was drafted by the Colts, his initial role was strictly as a punt returner. He is fast, shifty, and can make guys miss. Since joining the Patriots, Dorsett has not had experience in that role and has spent his time earning a defined role in the offense. Dorsett ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL combine back in 2015, and has not only gained the trust of Tom Brady, but Bill Belichick as well.

This is all assuming that N’Keal Harry is still planning to return to the team when he is eligible. If that is the case and Olszewski draws the short straw, the Patriots will have the versatile and dynamic air attack that they thought they had at the beginning of the season. They would have four receivers above 6-2, a nice mix of young and older guys, and two lethal smaller receivers in Edelman and Dorsett. Sanu and Harry take this offense to the next level, and it will be fun to watch.