Previewing the Patriots’ wide receiver position heading into the offseason.
The wide receiver position has been an issue for the New England Patriots going back years, especially from a developmental perspective. The 2024 season was no exception: the group as a whole disappointed, despite some solid statistical contributions from some of its members.
On the whole, however, there are serious questions whether or not the depth chart as currently constructed is best suited to maximize the rare and somewhat raw talent of sophomore quarterback Drake Maye. As a result of that and the vast resources they have available this offseason, the Patriots should be expected to be quite active in hopes of upgrading the position.
Major change might be on the horizon.
Patriots wide receiver depth chart
Kayshon Boutte: The 2023 sixth-round draft pick had a quiet rookie season and also was a non-factor early on in his sophomore campaign. From Week 3 on, however, he developed into a valuable contributor and eventual starter. Serving as the team’s top perimeter target and most-used wideout from a snaps perspective (760; 69.5%), Boutte finished the year with 43 catches for 589 yards and 3 touchdowns. Both his score total and his 13.7 yards per reception ranked first among the team’s regular pass catchers.
Kendrick Bourne: After signing a three-year, $19.5 million contract extension with the Patriots last offseason, Bourne started the year on the PUP list: the ACL injury he suffered the previous season kept him sidelined until October. Once he returned, he resumed his usual role as a starter-level Z-receiver. He did have some promising moments, but his impact overall was limited; partially due to his recovery, partially due to the passing offense as a whole being out of sync at times. Bourne finished the year with 28 catches for 305 yards and a touchdown in 12 games.
DeMario Douglas: Douglas was the Patriots’ best receiver in training camp and appeared poised for a breakout campaign, but it never quite materialized. His physical limitations might have played a part in that — his lack of size will always make it hard for him to contribute as a blocker — and it seemed the team was reluctant to make him a focal point of its attack, particularly early on in the year. Nonetheless, talent has a way of rising to the top: Douglas finished the year tied for the team lead in receptions (66) and touchdown catches (3), and also ranked second in receiving yards (621).
Ja’Lynn Polk: Trading out of the spot that eventually became Chargers standout Ladd McConkey, the Patriots instead picked Polk in the second round of the 2024 draft. The Washington product had a promising training camp, and the team threw him right into the mix with the starters to open the season. However, he failed to live up to the expectations and ultimately had an underwhelming first NFL season. Polk ended the season with 12 receptions for 87 yards and a pair of scores; from November on, he caught just two passes.
Javon Baker: Ja’Lynn Polk was not the only rookie wide receiver to disappoint in 2024. Javon Baker, who promised to put on a show after he was picked in the fourth round, was a non-factor for virtually the entire season. He ended up playing only 90 offensive snaps over his 11 games, with 50 of them coming over the final two weeks of the season. Baker finished with one 12-yard catch on four targets; also had a brief stint as a kickoff returner but was removed from that role again after three runbacks for an average of 26.3 yards.
John Jiles: Originally joining the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Giants, Jiles joined the Patriots practice squad in late September. He was released a week later but eventually re-signed, ending the season on the developmental roster without any game-day elevations.
JaQuae Jackson: Jackson also entered the NFL as a UDFA last offseason. Starting out in Atlanta, he was claimed off waivers by New England in June. He did catch a 38-yard touchdown from backup quarterback Joe Milton in the preseason opener, but suffered an undisclosed leg injury the following week and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Offseason preview
Contract statuses: Kayshon Boutte (signed/2026), Kendrick Bourne (signed/2026), DeMario Douglas (signed/2026), Ja’Lynn Polk (signed/2027), Javon Baker (signed/2027), John Jiles (signed/2025), JaQuae Jackson (signed/2025)
Coaching staff: Todd Downing (wide receivers)
Thanks to John Jiles and JaQuae Jackson signing new deals since the start of the offseason, the Patriots have their entire 2024 wide receiver group under contract for 2025. While that gives them a foundation to build on, anything but multiple additions in free agency and possibly the draft would be a major surprise.
Fact is, after all, that the unit lacks a true difference maker to command attention from the opposing defense. Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne are not that, and neither is the shifty DeMario Douglas. The latter seems like he can be a productive player in a Josh McDaniels-led offense, but a WR1 he is not — and neither is any other wideout currently under contract in New England.
That does not mean that Boutte, Bourne and company will all be on the chopping block, of course. If McDaniels and new wide receivers coach Todd Downing feel positive about their potential contributions, they will find roles on the 2025 team even if they look different and possibly less prominent than the ones they played in 2024.
The same is true for youngsters Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Both have talent — they were drafted in their expected range — but they need to find a way to move past what can be classified as challenging rookie campaigns. And they better: with a new coaching staff in place, their draft statuses alone will not be enough to keep them on the roster particularly if new additions are brought aboard.
What will those additions look like, though? Given their league-leading salary cap space, the Patriots could swing big (something they failed to do in 2024 when they unsuccessfully pursued Calvin Ridley) and go after the heavy hitters set to become available.
The biggest name on the list, and a player New England is likely to explore adding, is current Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins. He won’t come cheap — an average annual value of around $30 million should be expected — but he would give New England some much-needed quality at the wide receiver position.
Other free agents to consider include Darius Slayton, Elijah Moore, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Olamide Zaccheaus, Demarcus Robinson or Josh Palmer. Trading for somebody like A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, or Cooper Kupp also is an option, although likely more of a pipe dream than the team making investments in free agency.
In addition, New England also could go after the position in the draft. The obvious name to consider at No. 4 is Travis Hunter, even though he projects primarily as a cornerback at the next level with package potential at receiver; he would be an enticing piece but not a No. 1 option.
At the end of the day, it is clear the Patriots will have options to bolster their receiver group. They need to, frankly.