The Patriots have a lot of holes in their roster to fill this offseason, with even more as of Friday with the announcement of Devin McCourty’s retirement and Jake Bailey’s release. But one of the more prominent positions needing help remains their wide receivers.
They are fortunate partly because they are set to only have two pass-catchers from last season to hit free agency, Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers, and if they’re not going to re-sign either of them, there are still some solid players to choose from.
Bill Belichick and co. appear to be prioritizing the position even before free agency begins, as they were reportedly in attendance for Odell Beckham Jr.’s workout in Arizona while also expressing interest in DeAndre Hopkins via trade.
But if they hope to have an easier path to acquiring players, plenty of unrestricted free agents are already available.
Kenny Golladay
Maybe not the most popular of the group, primarily due to his incredibly underwhelming tenure with the New York Giants, it’s difficult to completely wipe out Kenny Golladay’s previous production with the Lions.
Because the Giants plan to release him before fulfilling his contract, the Patriots will get their chance at a once highly sought-after receiver much sooner than anticipated. His time in New York certainly does not excite any teams needing to improve their receiving corps, but that works in New England’s favor; it’s unlikely Golladay will pull in a similar contract to what he received during free agency in 2021.
We know how much Belichick loves to bring in players needing a second chance, a prove-it season, and signing Golladay would be just that. At 6-foot-4, he would bring the size the Patriots are currently lacking, and if he could return to the production and performance he showed early in his career, it could make him one of the sneakiest best signings of the Belichick era.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Although the Patriots hope to bring in veteran talent to boost their receiver’s room, Smith-Schuster is on the younger side of other available players.
At just 26 years old, Smith-Schuster is a similar talent to Jakobi Meyers but is projected to have a (slightly) lower market than the Patriots’ free agent. However, if the plan is to let Meyers sign elsewhere this offseason, then Smith-Schuster would be a potentially quality replacement.
After spending the first five years of his career with the Steelers, he chose to sign with the Chiefs in 2022 and produced one of the best seasons statistically of his career. In a season that ended with a Super Bowl win, Smith-Schuster totaled 78 receptions for 933 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 12 yards per catch.
His off-field antics may not make him a Patriots fan favorite, but his proven production and youth are exactly what New England could use on their roster, especially if Meyers ends up elsewhere for 2023.
Mecole Hardman
Another recent Chiefs’ receiver available this free agency, Mecole Hardman may be an under-the-radar choice for the Patriots.
Despite having the worst statistical season of his career in 2022 due to injury, Hardman brings effortless and impressive speed to the field, taking the top off any defense. He would immediately fill Meyers’ absence while adding the versatility to be used in the backfield; a quality Belichick is known to love.
As likely one of the more intriguing free agents of all receivers this year, the Patriots are bound to get into a bidding war to sign Hardman if that’s the direction they choose. He’s about to be 25 years old and could be a consistent performer for any team, no matter where he goes.
Darius Slayton
His soon-to-be former teammate may be dominating the headlines after his release, but Darius Slayton was a far better player in his time with the Giants than Golladay.
Through four seasons in New York, Slayton totaled 170 receptions for 2,554 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 15 yards per catch. Consistency is one of the main aspects he’s displayed during his career, as he’s topped 700 yards in three seasons while also ranking inside the top five in all major receiving categories.
One major worry factor with Slayton, however, is his tendency to drop passes. Although that’s not a deal breaker, it is something for the Patriots to consider, especially as they dealt with that issue with their receivers across the board just a few years ago.
Like Hardman, Slayton is also bound to receive much attention from teams when free agency begins. If the Patriots are interested, they’ll have to move fast.
D.J. Chark
If a combination of size and consistency is a determining factor when considering which receivers to sign, the Patriots should strongly consider 26-year-old D.J. Chark.
Coming off a prove-it year with the Detroit Lions in 2022, Chark didn’t have the production that Detroit was probably looking for, totaling just 30 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns. Some outside factors undoubtedly impacted his performance worthy of consideration, but there are a few other reasons that may deter teams from looking Chark’s way.
Despite being just four years removed from a Pro Bowl season in 2019, when he racked in 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns, Chark is yet to play through an entire season. He’s dealt with a fair share of injuries keeping him sidelined over the years, which the Patriots will need to consider since they already took that risk when trading for another injury-riddled player in DeVante Parker last season.
However, regardless of the many what-ifs that may arise, Chark’s performance when healthy is noteworthy, particularly his 14.4 average yards per catch during his career. It’s fair to assume he won’t be a player that several teams will be clamoring for, thus allowing the Patriots to test the waters on a bargain deal with a potentially overachieving player.