The 15 best wide receivers in the history of the New England Patriots

Historically, the Patriots have been the opposite of lucky when it comes to rostering top-quality wide receivers. This is not just an issue they dealt with during the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era that so many fans became accustomed to.

For whatever reason, big name receivers have mostly avoided New England over the years. But that doesn't mean they don't have a rich history of productive players who became stars in their own right.

Criteria for selection

Because the Patriots have lacked star power since their inception in 1960, there are more factors to consider when ranking the team's best all-time wide receivers. There are the obvious high performers who will be near the top of the list, but stats are not the deciding factor in determining how important or great a player was during their tenure.

The qualities that determine the best of the best include but are not limited to longevity, importance to the team, whether or not they possess a clutch gene, postseason contributions, and more.

Their on-the-field performance doesn't entirely define their legacy in New England. It plays a part, but there's a reason the Patriots became known for their players putting the team before themselves and their accomplishments, which will be reflected in this ranking.

The 15 best wide receivers in the history of the New England Patriots

15. Matthew Slater

It wouldn't be a list of the best receivers in Patriots history if the best special teamer, technically a pass catcher, weren't on the list.

Although he never thrived in the league in his given position, Matthew Slater earned the right to be called the best special teams player in the history of the Patriots and the NFL. He led the charge in New England by emphasizing the importance of a well-oiled third unit, forcing the other 31 teams to prioritize their special teams as well.

Slater was the perfect teammate on and off the field. He was named to ten Pro Bowls and earned two First-Team All-Pro and three Second-Team All-Pro honors throughout his 16-year career. He was a leader, the voice of the locker room, a mentor, and the example by which many players hoped to follow.

It's partly what made it so sad to see him decide to hang up the cleats after the 2023 season. However, he has since joined Jerod Mayo's staff and will remain with the team moving forward, a significant addition as the Patriots undergo big changes this offseason.

14. Art Graham

As one of the founding members of the early Boston Patriots, Art Graham had an under-the-radar, yet noteworthy career. The Somerville native and Boston College alum was drafted to his hometown team in 1963 and remained with the Patriots through 1968.

Graham impressed right as he began his career, despite being an 11th-round draft pick, by averaging 26.2 yards per reception as a rookie, recording 21 receptions for 550 yards and five touchdowns. He also made headlines with a franchise-long 77-yard reception that year, which inevitably led to him being named the team's Rookie of the Year, cementing the start of a legendary career.

By the time he retired in 1969, Graham had earned a reputation for showing up when the stakes were high, using his natural skill set and reliability to stretch the field and make a quarterback's job much easier.

He recorded 199 receptions for 3,107 yards, 20 touchdowns, and an average of 15.6 yards per catch through 75 career games, all of which led to his being named to the Patriots' All-1960s team.

13. Chris Hogan

There's a reason he was called 7/11 and it's not just because he was always open, which seemed to always be true.

Chris Hogan was the underdog who over-delivered and silenced the critics during his three seasons with the Patriots. He hadn't been a household name before arriving in 2016, but putting together back-to-back-to-back best seasons of his career surely made him known around the league.

During that time, he recorded 107 receptions for 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns, all while averaging 15.4 yards per catch. He was a reliable option for Brady, not just as a pass catcher but also as a teammate, as he only missed three games in three years.

On top of that, he became an explosive player in the postseason, too, despite his lack of experience beyond Week 17 before becoming a Patriot. Hogan played in 9 playoff games in three years, recording 34 receptions for 542 yards and four touchdowns to become a two-time Super Bowl Champion.

12. David Givens

How could the guy who infamously mocked Terrell Owens in Super Bowl XXXIX after catching a four-yard touchdown not be on this list?

David Givens was never expected to be a big part of the Patriots plans after he was drafted in the seventh round in 2002. But he fit the Bill Belichick mold perfectly and went on to defy the odds and proving the doubters wrong by becoming one of the best receivers in team history.

Although most of his regular season stats won't impress many, Givens came alive when taking the field in the playoffs. He scored touchdowns in seven postseason games, starting with the AFC Championship in 2003, which included Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX.

Because of that, he held the team record for the most scores in the postseason until 2015 when another great surpassed him against the Chiefs.

Before signing with the Titans in 2006, Givens had recorded 158 receptions for 2,214 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 14 yards per catch in the regular season. On top of that, he added 35 receptions for 324 yards and seven touchdowns in the postseason, proving beyond doubt his high value to the Patriots.

11. David Patten

After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Giants and Browns, David Patten made his way to the Patriots right in time for the start of the dynasty years. He became a significant part of the offensive game plan during his four seasons with the team, setting career-highs with his performances.

From 2001 to 2004, Patten recorded 165 receptions for 2,513 yards and 16 touchdowns, though he doesn't receive a lot of credit for all that he contributed to the team.

He might not be the most talked about name of that era, but Patten had a handful of incredibly memorable moments when the Patriots were performing at their highest levels including becoming just the eighth player since the merger to run, catch, and throw for a touchdown in a single game in 2001. It had been 22 years since it was last done by Walter Payton in 1979.

Also during that season, Patten caught touchdown passes from Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady in the AFC Championship, and Super Bowl wins and inevitably helped the team win two more before signing with the Redskins in 2004.

10. Danny Amendola

Although his regular season stats are far from impressive, which even Bill Belichick poked fun at during Tom Brady's roast earlier this year, Danny Amendola became a totally different player once the postseason began, earning him the nickname "Danny Playoffs."

Those numbers won't jump off the page either, but his clutch timing and willingness to do whatever it took to win make him one of the best receivers in team history.

During his five seasons with the Patriots, he became one of Tom Brady's primary targets and perhaps his most reliable weapon when the stakes were the highest. In 13 playoff appearances, he recorded 57 receptions for 709 yards and six touchdowns, which helped the team win two Super Bowl titles.

9. Terry Glenn

Although his career in New England ended quite chaotically, Terry Glenn's tenure with the Patriots is one worthy of remembering.

The team's first-round draft pick in 1996 immediately lived up to the hype as a rookie, recording 90 receptions for 1,132 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 90 receptions that year were the most ever in a single season for a rookie and the second most in Patriots history, which was quite a way to kick off his NFL career.

After dealing with nagging injuries over the next few seasons, Glenn repeated his rookie production in 1999 and was named to his first Pro Bowl. Off-the-field drama impacted his final two seasons in New England despite remaining one of the best weapons on the team, eventually having him traded to the Packers in 2001.

Regardless, his 329 receptions for 4,669 yards and 22 touchdowns earned him a spot in the Patriots' All-1990s Team, and he is still remembered as one of the best receivers in team history.

8. Gino Cappalletti

There was nothing in football that Gino Cappelletti couldn't do, and he showed that on a weekly basis as a member of the Boston Patriots from 1960 to 1970. From lining up as a kicker or in the secondary as a defensive back to tackling as a defensive end and catching passes as a receiver, he was a revolutionary player at the start of the Patriots' existence.

Making his career even better, the Minnesota alum went undrafted and became one of the best of all time in team history.

During the seasons he was used on offense, Cappelletti recorded 292 receptions for 4,589 yards and 42 touchdowns. His contributions on the field for every unit led him to being a five-time All-Star, a five-time scoring leader, and was named Second-Team All-NFL on four occasions.

But his impressive list of accomplishments doesn't end there.

Cappelletti also won AFL Player of the Year in 1964, a season in which he led the league in field goals attempted and made, longest field goal made, recorded 49 receptions for 865 yards and, seven touchdowns. He didn't miss a single extra point and scored 155 points for all of his work combined.

He's since been named to the Boston Patriots All-1960s Team, as well as the Patriots 35th and 50th Anniversary teams. He's (of course) in the team's Hall of Fame with his No. 20 retired, further proving there will never be another player like Cappelletti to play for the Patriots or in the NFL.

7. Deion Branch

When thinking of clutch and energetic Patriots receivers, it's hard not to think about Deion Branch, who was a significant contributor to the start of the team's success in the early 2000s.

Despite the long list of talent the offense had at the time, Branch consistently stood out for his performances and his contributions on the field every Sunday. On top of totaling 328 receptions for 4,297 yards and 24 touchdowns throughout both New England tenures, the receiver might have been even better in the playoffs.

Through 14 post-season games, Branch recorded 56 receptions for 852 yards and four touchdowns, with some of his most productive games being the Super Bowl or AFC Championship. It's what led to him being named Super Bowl XXXIX MVP, becoming just the fourth receiver to win the award in NFL history, the last of whom was Jerry Rice.

6. Irving Fryar

As one of the top 25 receivers of all time, Irving Fryar is inevitably to be one of the best pass catchers in Patriots history.

He was the Patriots' first overall pick in the 1984 Draft, but he was sparingly used during his rookie season. That changed the following year when Fryar recorded 39 receptions for 670 yards and seven touchdowns to become one of the best offensive weapons on the team.

Little did they know at the time he was only just getting started.

Fryar was named to his first Pro Bowl and made Second-Team All-Pro in just his second season and was a significant contributor to the Patriots' path to the Super Bowl in 1985.

He went on to play for New England until 1992, totaling 363 receptions for 5,726 yards and 38 touchdowns. He broke 1,000 receiving yards in 1991 for the first time in his career, further proving himself an absolute juggernaut, which he continued for three seasons with the Miami Dolphins, seeing the best years of his career as a member of one of the Patriots' biggest rivals.

5. Randy Moss

Seeing a talent like Randy Moss placed fifth on the list of the Patriots' best receivers might be hard to understand, but the receiver's tenure in New England was primarily defined by his beyond-impressive 2007 season when he set career-high stats in multiple categories.

Bill Belichick's decision to trade for a "washed up" Moss in 2007 might be the best trade he made during his Patriots tenure, especially since the team went on to go undefeated in the following regular season.

Moss was on fire and matched Tom Brady's hot streak that year, winning league MVP and breaking several quarterback records. The receiver did the same, recording 98 receptions for 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns. He was the caliber of receiver the offense needed, prompting him to nearly win Offensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

Had Brady not been injured and missed the entire 2008 season, who knows what the Patriots could have done to follow up the nearly perfect season? Regardless, Moss more than delivered during his three-and-a-half years in Foxboro, totaling 259 receptions for 3,904 yards and 50 touchdowns.

If only he could've won a ring, though.

4. Wes Welker

Despite his consistent contributions on the field, Wes Welker has become somewhat of a controversial figure in the eyes of Patriots fans. But no matter what opinion they might have now, he deserves to be recognized as one of the best receivers in team history.

Welker embodied what the Patriots wanted in their offense when Belichick traded for him in 2007, bringing the scrappiness to the team that made defenders fear lining up against them. He was one of Brady's favorite targets during his six years with the team, which led to him leading the team in receptions in 2007, 2009, and 2011.

He was named to five Pro Bowls, received First-Team All-Pro honors, and broke 1,000 receiving yards in five of his six seasons with the Patriots. If Belichick could have cloned him and filled the offense with a bunch of Welker's, he would have.

Although he happened to be on the team during the Super Bowl drought, Welker still impressed with his performances every week. By the time he signed with the Broncos in 2013, he had recorded 672 receptions for 7,459 yards and 37 touchdowns as a Patriot, totaling the second most receiving yards of all receivers in team history.

3. Stanley Morgan

It couldn't be an all-time list of the greatest Patriots receivers if a player from before the dynasty era wasn't included in the top 5. And because of that, Stanley Morgan takes his rightful spot as the third-best in Patriots history.

The first-round draft pick in 1977 had a slow yet impressive rookie season and kicked it into high gear the following year and every season after. Morgan's best came in 1979 when he recorded 44 receptions for 1,002 yards and a league-high 12 touchdowns. On top of that, he averaged 22.8 yards per reception, which was also the best in the NFL.

Morgan continued to build upon his early success and quickly became the Patriots' most dominant offensive threat, which led to four Pro Bowl nods and two Second-Team All-Pro titles.

He was a significant reason for the Patriots' Super Bowl run in 1985, and although they didn't win and didn't see much of the postseason after that, Morgan maintained his impressive production throughout his 13 years in New England.

By the time he joined the Colts in 1990, Morgan had recorded 534 receptions for 10,352 yards and 67 touchdowns, earning him a spot in the Patriots Hall of Fame. Additionally, he was named to the team's All-1970s and All-1980s teams, plus the 35th and 50th Anniversary teams, adding more legendary accomplishments to his unforgettable career.

2. Troy Brown

Before there was a Wes Welker or Julian Edelman, there was a Troy Brown, whose career skyrocketed at the start of the most successful years in franchise history.

It took a few years before he became a solid target for Drew Bledsoe, as he didn't become fully integrated into the offense until the 1997 season. But Brown was always reliable and showed the best was yet to come, which couldn't have happened at a better time.

After completing his most impressive season in 2000, Brown topped that the following year by breaking 1,000 yards for the first time in his career by catching passes from young Tom Brady. He proved the perfect guy for the job, becoming one of the quarterback's favorite weapons by recording 101 receptions for 1,199 yards and five touchdowns, a year that earned him his first and only Pro Bowl honors.

By the time he retired in 2008, Brown had cemented his Patriots legacy atop the record books by earning his place just below Stanley Morgan to become the receiver with the second most receiving yards in franchise history.

He remains in the top five, even 16 years later, which earned him a spot on the Patriots' All-2000s Team, 50th Anniversary Team, All-Dynasty Team, and eventually the team's Hall of Fame.

1. Julian Edelman

When it comes to fulfilling the duties of what it means to be the ultimate Patriot, no one did it better than Julian Edelman.

Like his best friend Tom Brady, expectations were low for the wide receiver's career from the start, as he was a seventh-round draft pick in 2009. He was coming into the NFL as a quarterback from Kent State, but Bill Belichick quickly decided Edelman would switch positions and dramatically turn his career around.

That change set him up for a successful career, as he eventually became one of Brady's most trusted targets, recording 620 receptions for 6,822 yards and 36 touchdowns during the regular season.

He was even better when more was on the line in the postseason. Through 19 playoff games, Edelman recorded 118 receptions for 1,442 yards and five touchdowns, with some of those catches becoming monumental moments of the dynasty years.

His stats were never flashy, and he was never considered one of the best in the league, but Edelman was clutch and rose to the occasion when called upon. He was a gritty, aggressive player that Brady could rely on no matter the situation, earning him the top spot among the best receivers in New England history.

The 15 best wide receivers in Patriots history by receiving yards

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