The wide receiver position has long been a thorn in the side of the New England Patriots.
Even when Tom Brady was still under center, the Patriots struggled to keep top receiving talent on the field. It obviously isn’t due to a lack of trying considering they’ve used a first and second-round pick on a wideout in two of the last four NFL drafts.
The team has struggled drafting and developing players at the position. They also haven’t prioritized spending a lot of money for elite, playmaking receivers. Will this finally be the year where they go after one of the top wideouts on the draft board and hit a home run with the selection?
Let’s break down where the Patriots stand right now at the position ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
Who's on the roster?
- JuJu Smith-Schuster
- DeVante Parker
- Kendrick Bourne
- Tyquan Thornton
- Matthew Slater
- Lynn Bowden
- Tre Nixon
- Raleigh Webb
If the Patriots have improved at the receiver position, it hasn’t been by much. JuJu Smith-Schuster is definitely an upgrade when it comes to yards after the catch. So there will certainly be opportunities for him to feast in an offense with a long history of leaning heavily on screens and short passing plays.
DeVante Parker is one of the most underrated receivers in the league on the outside, but injuries have been a lingering issue for the veteran wideout. If he can stay on the field consistently, he has proven in the past that he can put up big numbers.
Speaking of putting up numbers, Kendrick Bourne no longer has to worry about Matt Patricia’s doghouse. People tend to forget he posted a career-high 55 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns in 2021.
Another player hoping for a bounce-back season is Tyquan Thornton. Things obviously didn’t go as expected for the 2022 rookie second-round draft pick. He has size, speed and the ability to separate downfield. The Patriots are banking on a second-year leap from the former Baylor standout to help take the offense to new heights.
Who left this offseason?
- Jakobi Meyers
Losing Jakobi Meyers is tough considering he’s the diamond in the rough spotted by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie. He worked his way onto the team and eventually positioned himself as the best receiver on the roster.
Now, he’ll be catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo in a Las Vegas Raiders uniform. Some might view Smith-Schuster as an upgrade, but they also have to take into account the fact that Meyers still managed to put up solid numbers on a bad Patriots offense last season.
Imagine how good he might have been with a proven offensive coordinator like Bill O’Brien overseeing things in his final year with the team.
Positional need: High
The longer the Patriots wait to take a receiver in the draft, the better the chances of them blowing a pick. We’ve seen it time and time again with coach Bill Belichick, who has struggled historically when drafting good receivers.
Smith-Schuster leading the way isn’t enough to get the offense over the hump. They still need a legitimate No. 1 option or home run threat to make opposing defenses respect them.
Top draft prospects
- Zay Flowers, Boston College
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
- Quentin Johnston, TCU
- Jordan Addison, USC
- Josh Downs, North Carolina
There’s a reason why Zay Flowers and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have been constantly mocked to the Patriots at No. 14 overall in the draft.
Smith-Njigba has the best hands in the draft, but Flowers is an athletic freak that can flat-out fly. The Patriots clearly need speed on the outside, but they also need consistency when it comes to beating coverage. Both Smith-Njigba and Flowers would be significant upgrades for them in that regard.
If they’re looking for size, Quentin Johnston would be their best bet as more of a dominant physical receiving target. Regardless of the direction the Patriots go in, there are clearly prospects on this year’s draft board that can help them improve.
2023 NFL draft position preview
- Quarterback
- Running back
- Wide receiver
- Tight end
- Offensive line
- Defensive tackle
- Edge rusher
- Linebacker
- Cornerback
- Safety
- Specialists
