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3 available free agent wide receivers the New England Patriots can target

By Justin Trombino

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - FEBRUARY 02: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks during the New England Patriots practice on February 2, 2018 at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The New England Patriots will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on February 4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - FEBRUARY 02: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks during the New England Patriots practice on February 2, 2018 at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The New England Patriots will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on February 4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The New England Patriots need to start preparing their offense for this season — and for the long haul into the future — by adding wide receiver help.

The New England Patriots need to bring in positive reinforcements to upgrade their wide receiver position.

The concern obviously doesn’t seem too important in regards for this season, but the Patriots are going to find themselves in a similar position next season. So it would make sense to be preventative and start the process of bringing in talent now.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, they are already up against the wall in regards to the salary cap driven league that is the NFL, and the team does not necessarily have much to offer some of the higher tier receivers who were floating around the free agency market this offseason — especially considering Tom Brady is not calling the shots anymore.

With that being said, the Patriots are prepared to deploy a receiving unit that includes 33-year-old workhorse Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu — who is returning from offseason ankle surgery, Marqise Lee — who is also returning from injury and has not played a healthy season since 2017, and last year’s first round draft pick, N’Keal Harry … as well as five undrafted wide receivers — only two of whom were on the team last year in Gunner Olszewski and Jakobi Meyers.

It’s fair to say that New England is interested in building a young receiving core around Jarrett Stidham.

The best way to do that is to surround him with players he has spent extensive time with and is familiar with in terms of their playing styles. Harry, Meyers, and Olszewski are in a prime position to be those players for Stidham, but it’s definitely not going to be enough.

Another way to surround Stidham with talent is by acquiring players who share the same level of experience with him — that way, they can grow and learn together. But the experience that comes along with a veteran receiver can be extremely invaluable.

Here are some relatively young, talented, and inexpensive free agent wide receivers the New England Patriots should consider bringing in.

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