Let's Discuss the Patriots Increasingly Limited Options at WR

There's not enough sugar-coating, honey dip, sprinkles, or Boston creme in New England to take the bad taste of the Patriots missing out on Calvin Ridley out of our collective mouth. Yes, that's a preposterous overspend by Tennessee. And it won't surprise me at all if it condemns them to a future of more 6-11 seasons to come. And I agree with the people saying Massachusetts upping the sales tax to 9% when states like Tennessee have theirs at 0% makes it that much harder (9% harder, to be exact) to attract impact players to our little socialist utopia. 

Still, this is a bitter pill indeed. Ridley was expensive, but the Patriots have both a lot of money to spend and a lot of need for a man of Ridley's skillset. More to the point, I deserve nice things:

... not the sound business practices and practical spending limits that have been a cornerstone of this franchise for 25 years. I want instant gratification. And as the term implies, I want it now. 

OK. With that Veruka Salt moment out of my system, 

… I can admit it probably would've been a mistake to go that hard in on Ridley. He may end up being worth that investment, but the odds aren't in the Titans favor. Just because you have cap space doesn't mean you go on a bender and throw out the philosophy that kept you competitive for a quarter century. Eliot Wolf was raised first by his father Ron, then by his stepdad Bill Belichick, and he's going to keep doing business as he was raised to. I get it. 

The question then is what they do from here. Ridley would've filled one of their obvious needs in a way that the draft probably will not. Which is not just a wideout, but a true WR1. An X-receiver who presents a challenge that opponents will have to scheme for. A boundary WR who'll be a mismatch for most corners in the league. As glad as we are to have Kendrick Bourne back, feel good about Demario Douglas' future, and think Jalen Reagor might have some potential, neither they nor anyone else on the depth chart comes anywhere close to being a focus-of-your-passing-attack guy. So there is much work to be done for The Wolf. 

Though it's been reported that Wolf is out of options:

Others disagree:

Which is where I'm at. By all accounts, the 2024 Draft class is a strong one for wideouts. But it's highly unlikely the Pats are going to grab anything but a quarterback at No. 3. Unless somehow you think the smart course is to take Marvin Harrison Jr., sit back, relax, and watch him carry Jacoby Brissett to his first Super Bowl MVP:

Boston Globe. Getty Images.

And if that's you, I'm putting you on notice that you're under surveillance until I'm satisfied you're not a threat to yourself and everyone around you. Brissett is here to guide a rookie quarterback gently into the starter's job. And for that, they'll both need a true WR1. Draft a second-tier guy at 34 (Ladd McConkey would be ideal). But to get a genuine game-changer beyond the 1st round is going to take a lot of luck. Which I stopped relying on about one Tyquan Thornton ago. 

So let's get speculative on the options still currently available:

Marquise Brown. Among the original wideouts to hit the free agent market, he's the highest ranked still available. He's three seasons removed from the only 1,000 yard season of his career, and aside from that has never approached 800. Which to be fair is due in large part because in Baltimore he was on the best rushing team in the league and in Arizona hasn't been helped at all by Kyler Murray's injuries. In the few games they were together, Brown put up decent numbers. It's a question of whether or not you want to add a 5-9, 180 lb receiver to a team in need of a big, freakish athlete who can win 1-on-1 battles on a regular basis. And his career Catch % of 63.1 would've ranked him 131st in the league in 2023. But as receiver depth charts are filling up fast, Brown might be had at a reasonable price. I'm not confident he's a future Pro Bowler. But on Day One in Foxboro he'd be the unquestioned best target on the squad until they develop someone better. 

Mike Williams. Ironically, Williams' career Catch % is an identical 63.1. But that's where the similarities end. He's 6-4, 220 lb and the prototype body for what this team has lacked for years. And if he's healthy, he's a big time threat that coordinators have to account for. But as the Spartans said when Philip of Macedon threatened them with "If I bring my army…" "IF." Williams was released by the Chargers yesterday in a payroll dump after playing just three games. In his career, he's played a full season only twice. Which makes him exactly the kind of guy the Pats have always signed on an incentive laden, low-risk, "Prove It" deal. And I'd gladly do one again with this guy, since his upside is so insanely high. The challenge is attracting a guy like that on a rebuilding team. If Williams is going to take a below market deal, it make sense for him to join contender with an established offense, put up numbers, and cash in again. So this won't be a bargain signing by any means. But the Pats have the money to spend. Provided it's a short term deal? Count me in. 

Tee Higgins. Another big, tall boundary-X who fills their need perfectly. Higgins has made it clear he's not happy getting franchised and wants out of Cincinnati. This was the first year he missed any significant time, but when healthy he's pretty much a mortal lock for 1,000 yards. Probably more on a team where he's The One, and not competing with Ja'Marr Chase to get fed. I just defy anyone to pry him away from the Bengals for anything less than the 34th pick (he was drafted at No. 33 in 2020). That much in draft capital would be added to the cost of what he's going to demand in salary and make the price prohibitive as far as I'm concerned. But if The Wolf can pull it off without giving up the desperately needed 2nd rounder? Much respect.

Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk is in exactly the same situation as Higgins, just as unhappy and looking to get paid just as much, only a couple of thousand miles west and four inches shorter. Also, more productive. It's hard to imagine a team that's in the hunt for Super Bowls for the foreseeable future jettisoning the pod on a 26-year-old who rarely misses a start and is coming off a 1,300 yard season. And like Higgins, if he was the last piece of the puzzle for this offense, I'd offer the 34th pick and be ready to sweeten the offer. When you're talking about the worst offense we've seen in over 30 years and with holes to fill all over the place? That's a lot of eggs to put in one basket. 

The Field: Odell Beckham, Jr., Tyler Boyd, Curtis Samuel, DJ Chark, etc. None of these guys are the direction I was hoping to go win when the Patriots walked into the Free Agent store with a $100 million gift card. But my gut is telling me this is the aisle they'll be shopping in. Bargain hunting. along with all the franchises on a budget, looking to stretch their wide receiver dollars. Guys who've flashed brilliance at times (a lot of times in the case of OBJ) in the past, but who aren't going to alter the balance of power in the AFC East at all. I hope I'm wrong. I'm still invested in them making a splashy, dramatic move that changes our perceptions for 2024. But at this point I'm prepared to go into yet another season with a collection of receivers who'd be 2s, 3s and 4s on a contending team, but who represent the best we've got in Foxboro. 

Prove me wrong, Wolf. This would be one time I'd love to be wrong.