Chris Hogan Signs with the Panthers. He'll Be Missed.

This is a sad moment. But one that we all obviously saw coming. The Panthers are getting a good one in Chris Hogan. A tough, versatile receiver who can do a little bit of everything, will make difficult catches in big moments and block to the whistle. But for whatever reason, had fallen out of favor. Here’s what I wrote about him when free agency began:

This one goodbye that’ll leave a mark. It’s impossible not to look at Hogan’s Patriots career and remember the great moments. That insane catch against Kansas City. His 128 yards in losing to the Eagles last year. The surreal 9 receptions for 180 yards against Pittsburgh in the 2017 AFC title game. But it’s also impossible to overlook the fact that he’s seemed like Brady’s last option, with only 35 receptions on the season, despite Julian Edelman missing the first four games and Josh Gordon rediscovering his love for Ghost Train Haze in early December. Or how he struggled to gain separation against Marcus Peters in the Super Bowl on his way to zero catches on six targets. Maybe I’m reading it wrong. But nothing short of a major, Danny Amendola-like hometown discount will keep him here.
Chance They Keep Him: 15 percent

So with the exception of me giving them a 51 percent chance of bringing back Cordarrelle Patterson, I’ve been right about every one of their free agents. This is just the time I would’ve like to have been wrong. But the numbers I referenced back in March don’t lie. Here is that Super Bowl LIII boxscore:

When a receiver loses Tom Brady’s trust, he rarely gets it back. And clearly the coaching and personnel staffs agree with the quarterback’s diagnosis so they pulled the plug on what was an otherwise successful run for Hogan in New England. Three years, three trips to the Super Bowl, two championships. Plus a legitimate deep threat with a 15.4 YPC average. Hogan benefited more from breakdowns in coverage than any receiver I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I wish I’d kept count of how many times he was left completely unaccounted for by defenses and wide open. But if you told me it was 30 times over his three years, I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s unlikely he’ll get that in Carolina, but I have no doubt they just signed themselves a productive, field-stretching wideout.

That zero reception Super Bowl is not how he’ll be remembered here though. It’ll be the moments like this:

Or his enormous, crucial, desperate boundary catch on the game tying drive at the end of regulation in Super Bowl LI, with the Pats facing a 3rd & 10 from their own 8 and everything riding on it.

And let’s not forget his unforgettable crazy eyes. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention his crazy eyes.

So farewell to yet another veteran who came to New England and played a critical role in bringing championships here. Good night, Sweet Prince. You’ll never have to pull out your wallet in these parts ever again. Godspeed.