Mike Vrabel made it clear that the Patriots' roster was still taking shape and that the initial roster cuts would not be the team that took the field in Week 1 against the Raiders. That was made clear as soon as the waiver wire closed on Wednesday afternoon, as the Patriots made a flurry of additions to the roster and the practice squad, along with a few cuts.
The most notable of releases was to the receiving corps, as both Javon Baker and Kendrick Bourne were let go. The veteran reportedly asked for his release after the Patriots attempted to trade him to the Vikings, but the deal fell through.
It was apparent that the offense would undergo some changes after the initial roster was announced, due to eight pass catchers being left on the team. That's almost unheard of, so Baker and Bourne's releases weren't entirely unexpected.
However, the fact that Bourne held trade value for them made it a bit more questionable. The deal might have fallen through with Minnesota, but NFL insiders immediately reported that another team was interested in signing Bourne, so the Patriots had no reason not to inquire about a trade with them before his release.
Instead, it seems more than obvious that is where Bourne will wind up for the upcoming season.
Kendrick Bourne will likely return to a familiar team after his Patriots release
Before the Patriots spent big money in free agency during the 2021 offseason when they signed Bourne, he had spent the first four years of his career with the 49ers. He fell behind some superstar receivers on the depth chart, making him a WR3 or worse, which is why he explored other options where he could get more playing time.
He got that with the Patriots, recording the best season of his career in 2021 by totaling 55 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns, but failed to replicate that in the years since for a number of reasons; the most damning of which was the constant changing of offensive coordinators.
Once he was released from Matt Patricia's doghouse in 2023, he was on a path to having an even better year than 2021, only for that to end prematurely when he tore his ACL against the Dolphins in Week 9. He managed to return in 2024 for 12 games, but further coaching issues and trouble reintegrating into the offense led to another disappointing season.
Bourne was on the outskirts of this year's receiver room, too, despite being the only one with prior experience (and success) working with McDaniels. That seemed to be the leading cause for him to make the team, only for him to get injured again and eventually get released.
The rumored interest from the 49ers feels like an easy bet for where he will end up for the upcoming season. His familiarity with the team and opening for wide receiver help make it an obvious next stop in his career.
San Francisco has been dealt a bad case of injuries in recent years, especially with their receivers, so Bourne could be an immediate starter and make an impact right away. There will be competition for that spot, however, with Russell Gage, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall already on the roster.
However, there's a good chance Bourne could leapfrog any one of them on the depth chart because of his previous experience with the team and his potential to make a bigger impact.