The Patriots' new head guy, Mike Vrabel, has rocked his roster with upgrades in the 2025 offseason. In some quarters, it's being hailed as a masterclass. Compared to the team's more recent examples, it represents a significant improvement, especially when contrasted with the abysmally low 2024 version.
Vrabel has not been reticent to send former players who don't fit his scheme packing. These included David Andrews, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Davon Godchaux, and Deatrich Wise Jr., to name a few. More of the 2024 losing team's players are almost certainly ticketed out of town, as well, before the final 2025 roster is set.
One unit that is seeing a tremendous overhaul is the 2024 wide receiver room, which was among the worst in the NFL last season. Changes are on the way, and one receiver who is a fan favorite who hasn't lit up the lamp much since being signed as a free agent back in 2021 may be on the way out.
Kendrick Bourne is on the 2025 Patriots' roster bubble
Kendrick Bourne has been a favorite for years in Foxborough since being signed in 2021 as a free agent by Bill Belichick. Expectations were high, and at least for one year, they were almost met. In 2021, Bourne logged a respectable 55 catches for 800 yards and five touchdowns. It was a more than decent inaugural season.
Since then, however, it's been all downhill for Bourne and his career. He never caught more than 37 passes in the three succeeding years and has been injured in two of them. There is no overriding reason for Mike Vrabel to keep Bourne around except for one. In 2021, Josh McDaniels was the Patriots' offensive coordinator, and Bourne had his best season under his guidance.
That may mean that Bourne will be given more of an opportunity than he might otherwise deserve under McDaniels. Yet, the question that should be asked is, should it? Looking at Bourne's recent seasons for guidance, the answer is clear.
Kendrick Bourne should be traded or released
As much as the Patriots' fanbase likes Kendrick Bourne, the team's success should matter more. Bourne is at best a No. 4 NFL receiver, which is at the low end of the pecking order. He's behind Stefon Diggs, Pop Douglas, Mack Hollins, exciting rookie Kyle Williams, and maybe even an undrafted free agent, Efton Chism III.
According to Spotrac, Bourne's cap hit for 2025 is $7.7M, with a dead cap hit of only $2.8M. The Patriots can save nearly $5 million if they cut him, freeing up cash that can be used to sign a left guard or address another more pressing position. Bourne will be fighting for one of the last spots in a receiver's room that, while improved, could still use an added infusion of talent.
The Patriots will need to trade draft assets to do that, for example, to secure a salary cap casualty from another team. Releasing or trading Bourne will have little effect on the on-field product and will free up cash to help compensate a better receiver or a player to upgrade another position.
Mike Vrabel's Patriots are on course to win in 2025. He has made it clear his objective is to win the AFC East. While a playoff berth is eminently feasible in 2025, Vrabel knows he needs further upgrades at receiver for quarterback Drake Maye to supplant the Bills at the top of the division. Kendrick Bourne isn't one of those players.