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New England Patriots 4 Downs: Pre-draft/free agency needs

By Michael Perry

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks with Tom Brady #12 before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks with Tom Brady #12 before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – OCTOBER 27: Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the Cleveland Browns gifts his cleats to Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots following the game at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – OCTOBER 27: Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the Cleveland Browns gifts his cleats to Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots following the game at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

1st Down – Add No. 1-caliber wide receiver

The wide receiver position of the New England Patriots was one of the most disappointing positions on the entire team. Besides Julian Edelman, the wide receivers had zero effect on the field. That may sound a little harsh, but in the overall scheme of things, they definitely underachieved as a unit.

Also, as great as Edelman is, he cannot be a No. 1 receiver — especially on a team that has no clear No. 2 or No. 3 guy, either. Edelman is the type of player that feeds off the double coverage on the No. 1 receiver. Look at all of his great performances over the years, and it was always when he wasn’t double or even triple-covered by the defense.

So if the New England Patriots are going to go head to head with the top offenses in the league, they need a legitimate No. 1 threat on the outside. One name to keep an eye on is Cleveland’s Odell Beckham Jr., who would thrive playing in a Patriots uniform. Other free agents that could catch the eyes of the Patriots are A.J. Green, Amari Cooper, Emmanuel Sanders, and maybe even reuniting with Chris Hogan.

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