The Transfer has now been finished. A three-year, $398 million contract was agreed to by the veteran defensive tackle and the New England Patriots.
The New England Patriots offence from the previous season was horrible, no doubt about it.
They ranked thirty-first in total yards per game (276.2), twenty-eighth in passing yards per game (180.5), twenty-sixth in rushing yards per game (95.7), and thirty-first in points per game (13.9). The Patriots were shut out twice and held to seven points or fewer six times, as if those stats weren’t difficult enough to decipher.
Sports Illustrated ranked expanding the receiver room as New England’s #1 need after breaking down one offseason need for each AFC East team.
“While Marvin Harrison Jr. is an option with the No. 3 pick, the Patriots should also add at least one meaningful veteran,” according to SI. Numerous receivers, such as Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman Jr., Hollywood Brown, Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley, Gabe Davis, Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, and others, are expected to be available on the market. To get the offence going again, New England needs to seriously pursue and land one or both of those names.”
The Patriots should release free agent Kendrick Bourne and cut receivers Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker, according to Sports Illustrated. Before rupturing his ACL in Week 8, Bourne demonstrated promise with 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns.
The Patriots desperately need a quarterback, so adding a pass-catcher is almost as much of a need as they are. In 2023, running back Ezekiel Elliot led the team with 51 catches, and rookie receiver DeMario Douglas was the team’s top receiver with 561 receiving yards.
The two most fascinating choices are Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, both of whom are young receivers who might just be beginning to realise their full potential. The 25-year-old Higgins has the ability to be the Colts’ top receiver but is now behind Ja’Marr Chase, while Pittman has shown throughout his career that he is a dependable target in spite of the team’s quarterback woes.
Cincinnati is in a difficult situation as well because it must choose between investing in two significant contracts at the same spot. Higgings may be franchise-tagged by the Bengals, but his long-term plans are probably elsewhere. During his first three seasons, Higgins had at least 65 catches, 900 receiving yards, and six touchdowns before being restricted by injury to 42 receptions in 2023 for 5 touchdowns and 656 yards.