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To the New England Patriots\u2019 credit, they made moves this offseason to address the sorry state of their wide receiver depth chart.<\/p>\n
But to the continued dismay of Patriots fans, the results once again were mediocre at best in last week\u2019s season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n
While well ahead of schedule, Stefon Diggs looked like a player who\u2019s still not quite right following last year\u2019s torn ACL. Third-round rookie Kyle Williams was on the field for just five passing snaps, per PFF’s count. Slot receiver DeMario Douglas was a surprising non-factor, and new addition Mack Hollins was a no-show.<\/p>\n
If it wasn\u2019t for Kayshon Boutte\u2019s sterling debut, cries for the Patriots to seek more help at wide receiver would be even louder entering Week 2.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not to say that all\u2019s quiet on that front. Bleacher Report\u2019s weekly NFL Trade Big Board unsurprisingly included the Patriots, and the potential target could spark a fun debate among fans.<\/p>\n
Two things have become synonymous with the San Francisco 49ers in recent years \u2014 injuries and contract disputes. Fifth-year wide out Jauan Jennings is just their latest example.<\/p>\n
After managing a calf issue throughout training camp, Jennings sat out Wednesday\u2019s practice after picking up a shoulder injury in Week 1. As for his contract situation, it\u2019s complicated. ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter reported last week that Jennings turned down a long-term contract offer from the 49ers in favor of a modified deal, allowing him to hit free agency next spring.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s led to some speculation over whether the 49ers would look to trade the 28-year-old role player early, in an effort to recoup some compensation.<\/p>\n
B\/R\u2019s Kris Knox recently named the Patriots as a suitor for Jennings, proposing a package of two picks \u2014 a 2026 fourth-rounder and a 2027 fifth.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall prove to be a consistent playmaker, Jennings could be viewed as expendable once Brandon Aiyuk returns from injury. He proved himself as a starter last season and should intrigue receiver-needy teams.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Jennings has definitely flashed in previous seasons when healthy. Fans might remember his 175-yard, three-touchdown breakout game against the Los Angeles Rams in 2024. But would it behoove the Patriots to spend that kind of draft capital on an older, mid-tier receiver like Jennings? Based on their current depth chart, absolutely not.<\/p>\n The Patriots\u2019 biggest issue right now is that they don\u2019t have a clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver for quarterback Drake Maye. They\u2019re hoping that Diggs will prove to be that guy when he\u2019s able to operate at full speed. Boutte\u2019s big season debut was an encouraging development, but it was only one game.<\/p>\n Adding yet another WR2-type player like Jennings doesn\u2019t make much sense for New England; even with Brandon Aiyuk on injured reserve, Jennings wasn’t even the top wideout on his current team to open the season (that was 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall).<\/p>\n Unless a game-changing talent like A.J. Brown (who Philadelphia would be crazy to trade) or Tyreek Hill (who\u2019s off-field issues remain a serious red flag) become available at the trade deadline, the Patriots would be better off letting their young receivers like Boutte and Williams (and maybe even Efton Chism III?) continue to grow with Maye in what feels like an unavoidable rebuilding year in Foxboro.<\/p>\n A potential one-year rental in Jennings just doesn\u2019t move the needle enough for a Patriots squad that felt miles behind teams like the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.<\/p>\n To the New England Patriots\u2019 credit, they made moves this offseason to address the sorry state of their wide receiver depth chart. But to the continued dismay o<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":92703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/h3>\n