The New England Patriots have an opportunity to support their starting quarterback by retaining free agent receiver Kendrick Bourne for the upcoming season.
While changes are needed for the NFL’s 30th-ranked offense, not everyone should be let go, especially considering the Patriots’ existing shortage of offensive weapons. Keeping Kendrick Bourne on the team would be a prudent move, given his strong performance before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 8.
Despite missing nine games due to injury, Bourne, who is set to become a free agent, was on track for a career-best year in 2024. He concluded the season as the second-highest receiver in terms of yards (406) among New England’s wide receivers, securing 37 catches and scoring four touchdowns in 7.5 games. Throughout eight appearances, he consistently made multiple catches and scored in consecutive weeks against Buffalo and Miami.
In the 2023 season, only tight end Hunter Henry (6), also a free agent, surpassed Bourne in touchdown receptions. Comparatively, JuJu Smith-Schuster, who signed a three-year deal worth $25.5 million last offseason, scored only once and totaled 260 yards in his first season with the Patriots.
Bourne recently completed a three-year contract totaling $15 million, and due to the ACL tear, his price in the market may remain reasonable. Despite the promising display by rookie DeMario Douglas, who was a sixth-round pick, the Patriots’ passing game requires more than a 5-8 slot receiver. With a height of 6-1, the 28-year-old Bourne brings both size and experience that would benefit the Patriots’ starting quarterback for the 2024 season.
While not reaching the status of a WR1, Bourne has been an explosive and reliable target, boasting a 73.4 percent catch rate over three seasons. Ideally, he can return to his 2021 form when he achieved career highs in receptions (55) and receiving yards (800). These numbers ranked second on the team, behind Jakobi Meyers, who has since moved on to the Las Vegas Raiders. In his initial year as a Patriot, Bourne averaged 11.4 yards per target.
Having spent his first four NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Bourne was also a college teammate of Los Angeles Rams’ receiver Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington, entering the league undrafted in 2017.
