Patriots prove unwilling to pay for much-needed receivers again

There was a general feeling of high expectations among Patriots fans heading into the offseason for several reasons, the most prominent being the potential of the new regime spending big in free agency.

Because they had some of the most cap space to use during a critical rebuilding year, there was hope that a repeat of the 2021 spending spree would happen three years later, only on mostly better players. But that has not been the case, and it could be argued that the complete opposite has happened.

Despite their wins with re-signing their top pending free agents, as more and more players are announced to be signing with new teams, the more news is revealed that the Patriots missed out on another player they were reportedly interested in.

It has become commonplace already this offseason, with the biggest hit to the gut being losing out on Calvin Ridley to the Titans earlier this week. If that wasn't bad enough, more news just broke of another receiver they were allegedly interested in being traded to the Bears.

Keenan Allen was one player the Patriots called the Chargers about earlier in the week since the AFC West team needed to free cap space and was open to trading some assets.

The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed are now reporting that Eliot Wolf seemed to decide a fourth-round pick, and the price the Bears paid to acquire Allen was too much to give up for a proven offensive talent.

Patriots prove again unwilling to pay for much-needed receivers

This has been a consistent issue for New England over the years in their pursuit of a clear WR1, something that has eluded them for far too long. They now miss out on another proven weapon that could have elevated their offense because they weren't willing to give up a fourth-rounder to get a deal done.

Reports have suggested they have shifted their focus to the draft, which is said to have an incredible class of receivers this year. And although that's fine and dandy, they cannot continue down the same path they've followed if they want their offense to be successful.

A lack of true offensive weapons is part of the reason Mac Jones's tenure failed. Relying on a rookie receiver to make all the difference is a mistake.

Maybe Ridley and Allen aren't the most desirable; therefore, the Patriots missing out on them isn't a big deal. However, the bigger issue appears to be their unwillingness to make significant moves to acquire the talent they need.

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