Patriots: 3 depth chart problems fans should worry about
By Jerry Trotta
1. Wide Receiver
While we commend the Patriots for making it a point of emphasis to overhaul their wide receiving corps this offseason, the group shouldn’t instill much confidence in fans.
The group is no doubt significantly improved compared to last season, but why exactly were parties being thrown following the signings of Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne? For as dynamic as the two new additions are, their career numbers leave a lot to be desired.
You can make the case that the Patriots have three No. 2/3 receivers acting as their top three options at the position. Jakobi Meyers, though he burst onto the scene in a huge way last campaign, has a long way to go in his development before he can be considered a reliable, consistent option.
The Patriots’ receiving corps is still one of the worst in the NFL.
Behind that trio, good luck figuring out who will emerge as the No. 4 option. As things stand, it looks like that spot will come down to N’Keal Harry and Gunner Olszewski, with the likes of free agent addition Marvin Hall, undrafted talent Isaiah Zuber, 2021 seventh-rounder Tre Nixon, and recent signing Devin Ross battling it out during camp for the final three jobs.
While we certainly like New England’s depth at receiver if guys like Harry and Zuber live up to their potential, the fact they don’t have a premium No. 1 option is a scary thought, especially considering they might not have the talent at QB to accentuate their respective skill sets.
We hope we’re wrong, and there’s no telling whether another Meyers could emerge in 2021. However, at this current moment, WR is definitely a position worth losing sleep over.
