Before the offseason began, there was excitement about how the Patriots could dramatically makeover their offensive roster through free agency and put together a more competitive team for the 2024 season.
The anticipation grew even more once Jerod Mayo was named as the new head coach and the many comments he made about wanting to bring in some of the best talent they could ahead of next season.
With a healthy amount of cap space to spend and Mayo's desire to "burn some cash," it seemed like this year would repeat the 2021 spending spree, only this time, some better players would be brought in—players that Bill Belichick would probably never pay up for.
So far, though, that hasn't come to fruition. In fact, free agency has been the complete opposite of what was expected, thus creating some restlessness among fans who have long hoped to see a change in philosophy regarding roster building.
It has been particularly frustrating seeing the lack of effort in signing the much-needed receivers that the offense has needed for several years, especially after the news about Calvin Ridley choosing to sign with the Titans over the Patriots despite their nearly equal offer.
Although relying on the draft for a top receiver isn't an entirely bad idea, there were solid players readily available in free agency that would've helped the offense get back on track due to their veteran experience.
Now that list has dwindled, but there are a few still available who could be good additions, even if they aren't who fans crossed their fingers for at the start of the new league year.
5 receivers the Patriots can still sign after falling short on Calvin Ridley
Mike Williams
The player likely on the top of most teams' lists at this point is recently released former Charger Mike Williams. Unfortunately, he fell victim to the new staff in Los Angeles under Jim Harbaugh and was mainly cut due to cap savings.
He is now the top free-agent receiver available and could fill a need for the Patriots next season if they are interested. They are said to have called the Chargers this past week to inquire about players they may have been up for trading, including Williams, which could indicate their willingness to pursue him now that he's a free agent.
New England has already traded DeVante Parker and now missed out on Ridley, so Williams could fill that void immediately. There is some hesitation about his performance due to suffering a season-ending injury last year, but he's been a consistent weapon throughout his seven-year career.
Looking back to his 2022 season, Williams recorded 63 receptions for 895 yards and four touchdowns. The year before, he totaled over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, far more than any Patriot receiver at that time.
Williams could be an intriguing addition to play alongside Kendrick Bourne and DeMario Douglas, especially if JuJu Smith-Schuster continues to struggle. But if the Patriots are interested, they'll have to make a move quickly. Plenty of other teams are already expressing interest in signing Williams, and they could be easily cast aside because of that.
Tyler Boyd
He's not the Bengals receiver that Patriots fans have been obsessing over for the last two years, but if Tee Higgins is off the table, then maybe Tyler Boyd could be sufficient.
The 29-year-old has had a roller-coaster career so far, spending eight years in Cincinnati and suffering the same fate as Mike Williams this offseason as a cap casualty. He is now experiencing free agency for the first time in his career, and for the most part, his market seems relatively quiet, with not many teams calling to inquire about signing him.
That could make it a lot easier for the Patriots to make a move and get him in the building. He may not be the game-changer they need, but he's a veteran player who could boost the offense they desperately need.
Unlike others on this list, Boyd hasn't dealt with many injuries throughout his career, making him a more reliable player to roster. He's recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019 and, besides the 2023 season, has totaled over 700 yards every year since.
That's even more impressive when you consider he was playing behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the last four.
If given more opportunities, much like earlier in his career, Boyd could fit the mold of a receiver the Patriots have been hunting for. He will likely come cheap, certainly cheaper than a trade for Higgins, and if utilized better than he has in recent years, he can become a top performer on the offense.
Odell Beckham Jr.
The Patriots have long been connected to Odell Beckham Jr. since his days with the Cleveland Browns when the receiver practically begged Belichick to trade for him because he wanted to play with Tom Brady.
Who could forget him gifting goat hair cleats to the quarterback during the Browns and Patriots game in 2019?
Since then, he's torn both ACLs, won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and played his best season since that year with the Ravens in 2023. Now, he's a free agent and hoping to find another team to play for. Perhaps this is his opportunity to finally join the team he's voiced his desire to play for over the years.
Signing Beckham would be much cheaper than it was in the past, and given his age and questionable availability, now could be the best time to make him an offer for the Patriots. He's not the producer he once was, but he's still impressive and would bring that to the team's developing offense.
D.J. Chark
One of the younger options still available to sign is D.J. Chark, whose career with the Jaguars started strong, but with the constant turnover on the roster and coaching staff, he moved on to the Lions and is now a free agent after one season with the Panthers.
The last two years have been consistent for Chark, recording 30+ receptions and over 500 yards in each while averaging 15.8 yards per catch. Those were the numbers he put up, not being the WR1 for either team, yet those were similar to DeMario Douglas's numbers for the Patriots last season, which was the highest among all receivers on the team.
If Chark could bring that type of production to Foxboro, he'd fit right in and make an impact.
He wouldn't necessarily be considered the top receiver on the team, but the Patriots may not be fortunate to find that this offseason. They'll have to accept a guy like Chark, who has consistent production and reliability, over a flashy top-name player.
Michael Thomas
Remember when Michael Thomas was one of the best receivers in the National Football League? He recorded over 1,000 yards four seasons in a row with the Saints, earned three Pro Bowl honors, and won the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2019.
Well, that guy is available now but is far from who he used to be. He might not be setting records or remaining atop the leaderboard in receiving yards, but he could still be a productive part of an offense when adequately utilized.
The now 31-year-old has had a tumultuous four-year stretch in his career, headlined by repeated injuries that kept him off the field far more than on it. That makes his desirability a little more questionable, but at this point, the Patriots don't have the luxury of being too picky.
Thomas has proven he can be an offensive threat that intimidates opposing defenses. Although most of those days are likely behind him, he still has many tools in his arsenal that can make him a legitimate threat within the Patriots' offense.
With a better coaching staff to work with and a more consistent quarterback to catch from, there's no reason to believe he couldn't be a sneaky good signing for them this offseason.