The Patriots made some significant upgrades to the offense this offseason, fortifying the offensive line, adding a high-upside running back in the draft, and bringing back a reliable backup in Austin Hooper. No position may have gotten better than the wide receivers, though. The team added Stefon Diggs on a three-year deal along with Mack Hollins in free agency, and selected Kyle Williams in the third round from Washington State.
Despite bolstering the position, Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine argues it's still a top need for the team.
Currently, the wide receiver room features a mixed bag of players, all of whom seem pretty similar. Except Diggs, Hollins, and Kendrick Bourne, all are 25 or younger. In addition to those mentioned, the team also features top 2024 producers Kayshon Boutte and Pop Douglas, 2024 picks Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, and a handful of UDFAs headlined by Eastern Washington's Efton Chism III.
The Patriots' receiving corps is in a much better spot than it has been
And that's the truth. Diggs is a more clear-cut number one wideout than anyone the Patriots have had since, perhaps, as far back as Brandin Cooks. However, we can at least go back to Jakobi Meyers as a competent and reliable target. A combination of Boutte, Douglas, Bourne, and Hollins makes for a reasonable group behind him, and the younger players are scratch tickets until further notice.
In comparison to last year, the group is better. Boutte and Douglas were serviceable, but the team grasped at straws beyond them. Polk and Baker showed precious little, while K.J. Osborn was cut midseason.
The fact that the group is drawing so much attention is interesting—and, oddly, refreshing —compared to last season. Not refreshing in the sense that it's a new issue, but it shows how far the team has come in a single offseason. With this room last season, the position wouldn't have been among the top five needs on the roster.
Months later, this group is number two on the list. The rest of the team has improved significantly, making even a vastly improved wide receiver room seem necessary to further enhance the team's performance.
There might be some room for concern, though
Concerns? Maybe. Skepticism? It seems fair.
While the team is much better off than it was last year, it doesn't mean the group is good; in fact, they're relatively unproven. Diggs is off an ACL tear, Hollins is on the PUP list, Bourne spent the beginning of last season rehabbing his ACL, and only Boutte and Douglas have experience in prominent roles beyond them.
Is there potential? Certainly, particularly with Kyle Williams. However, to say that taking the group out of being a top concern is not entirely accurate, despite the additions, is not entirely accurate. There should be a higher level of confidence, but still a level of insecurity.
With over $60 million in cap space and Terry McLaurin continuing to hold out, he could be a name to watch, but for now, we can appreciate the team's effort to improve the group.