5 new faces who could save the New England Patriots' season

Matt Landers 

From one extreme to the other, Smith is an undersized receiver, but Landers is big enough to play tight end. Well, he's tall enough to play tight end anyway; he’s over 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 200lbs.

He clocked the third-fastest 40-yard dash time at the 2023 combine, though. So, the “freakish athlete” vibes are off the charts here. 

In college, Landers spent two years in Georgia but then transferred to Toledo in 2021 and ended his career as a Razorback. Despite an unsettled college career, he finished those four years with 1,547 yards at an average of 19.6 yards per catch.

With Tyquan Thornton permanently battling injuries, Landers would not only provide the offense with someone who takes the top off a defense, but he’d also give Mac Jones a big target at the back of the endzone. He’s currently on the Panthers practice squad.