Still No # 1WR

[Sam Bam Cunningham]

We have now gone through free agency and the draft and surprisingly we still do not have anything close to a # 1 receiver on the team. High concern as there is no deep threat or a player that can "take the top" off the defense.
Its not Agholor, Bourne or Jakoby Myers that is for sure. Edelman's retirement has made this even more of a huge hole.
Now all that is left is for the June first other teams' castoffs to choose from. I think this was a big oversight and will limit how effective Cam can be and also the TE's ceilings.

Teams will be able to stack the middle and cover the seams and center of the field on short and intermediate roots.
I think more capital should have been spent on this in the draft.

The other teams in the AFC East have spent mightily on this over past 2 years

1. Bills- Stefan Diggs
2. Dolphins Jaylon Waddle
3. Jets- Corey Davis and Elijah Moore.

I still believe the pats offense will be somewhat anemic this year. Hopefully the defense, will cover for offense shortcomings.
Looks like addressing WR1 will have to wait until 2022.

 

[Brit patriot]

Agholor can stretch the defence. You may argue you don't think he is that good, but no team is stacking the box and letting him go.

 

[jboston19]

They have a lot of balance on offense and look like they’re going to focus on running the ball. A #1 WR is exciting but obviously not a priority for them.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Don't need one. We have 2 pass-catching tight ends Henry and Smith, then Agholor, Meyers, Bourne. Add in QB/RB/OLine that's already 12 starters for 11 spots. We went 15 years with smurf receivers Welker, Branch, Edelman (+Gronk) for most of it. Imagine a scheme that is 2TE, run heavy, devastating play action, and an OLine that can beat the crap out of these smaller DE and smaller LBs in NFL defenses these days. We do NOT need some Julio Jones or overpaid WR. We're set at the pass catching positions. Meyers is also hugely underrated, a 1200 yard receiver if he started all year and beat teams focused on him since everyone else sucked last year.

.

 

[PaulThePat]

If the Pats had signed Elijah Moore there is no way folk on here would have had him as anything near WR#1.

 

[Zuma]

I think they may re-sign Damiere Byrd. He's not a #1 but can play there / WR1 to pull defenders downfield to help open up other areas like the middle of the field.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

For cap reasons only, the Falcons are looking to dump Julio. Maybe a 3rd round pick would do it. He's getting up there in age but he's still a complete stud

 

[PScottman]

We have now gone through free agency and the draft and surprisingly we still do not have anything close to a # 1 receiver on the team. High concern as there is no deep threat or a player that can "take the top" off the defense.

The Patriots have arguably two #1 TEs.

The WR lust continues when they remain the EASIEST player on the field to scheme "out".

Instead, allocate that huge WR cap number across the rest of the offense, have two-to-three specialist WRs - one possession, one speedster that can get deep (what - are they just not going to cover a guy?), and one route-runner for the cost of that ONE #1 guy and watch the Patriots exploit the matchup issues across an entire defense instead of trying to figure out "well, they hit/disrupt and then double our high paid #1 WR, now what?" (kind've like what everyone does with T. Hill in the playoffs now incl. TB last year).

 

[Brick27]

So you don’t feel Agholor is a deep threat when he very much can be..yet then you suggest Edelman was heavily tied to that role?

 

[patsfaninpa]

For cap reasons only, the Falcons are looking to dump Julio. Maybe a 3rd round pick would do it. He's getting up there in age but he's still a complete stud

Wouldn’t shock me. Nor, would OBJ if he’s healthy

 

[Fatmancryin]

For cap reasons only, the Falcons are looking to dump Julio. Maybe a 3rd round pick would do it. He's getting up there in age but he's still a complete stud

Cap hit is huge
2021 23m
2022 19m
2023 19m

I think the Pats feel they are set at WR.

Personally I would prefer a true #1 but don’t think that’s happening.

Agholor
Bourne
Myers
Harry
Gunner

barring trades(Harry traded or released as I don’t see them trading or releasing anyone else) these 5 are making the roster.

Definitely not sexy IMO.

 

[JMC00]

there is no deep threat or a player that can "take the top" off the defense

Here's Agholor doing it to the 2 secondaries that were in the SuperBowl

 

[Sicilian]

I feel like a #1 WR (in the sense that you're thinking), is valuable once you have an established QB. Until then, they're very expensive and their production won't outweigh their cost. If Mac Jones becomes the kind of QB that can take advantage of that kind of player, they'll find one. But until then? We're going to be running at least 50% of the time. Tight ends and solid possession receivers will be more valuable than a true #1 for the Patriots in 2021.

 

[PScottman]

Nor, would OBJ if he’s healthy

I really don't see Cleveland moving him. I'd look at the "almost #1" guys (think Cooks a couple years ago) in their last year of a rookie contract as possibilities instead.

 

[Username]

Have you watched Agholor? Not sure how you can come to the conclusion that he's not a deep threat after last season. He was badly misused by the Eagles, who played him as a slot receiver because of his size, even though he'd always been a deep threat in college.

Fantasy Fallout: Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne sign with New England Patriots | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

PFF's Nathan Jahnke breaks down the fantasy football implications of the New England Patriots signing wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne in 2021 NFL free agency.

www.pff.com

Agholor’s production for the Raiders mostly came as a deep threat. His 444 receiving yards on deep targets ranked sixth among wide receivers. He scored six times on his 11 deep passes, trailing only Tyreek Hill

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Agholor was one of the best deep WR last season I believe. I have faith in this Offense. We got Improvements at WR; TE and QB.

 

[Fatmancryin]

I really don't see Cleveland moving him. I'd look at the "almost #1" guys (think Cooks a couple years ago) in their last year of a rookie contract as possibilities instead.

Cleveland would move him in a nano second if they received a decent return.

I personally wouldn’t offer much as he is coming off another huge injury.

 

[Ring 6]

Cap hit is huge
2021 23m
2022 19m
2023 19m

I think the Pats feel they are set at WR.

Personally I would prefer a true #1 but don’t think that’s happening.

Agholor
Bourne
Myers
Harry
Gunner

barring trades(Harry traded or released as I don’t see them trading or releasing anyone else) these 5 are making the roster.

Definitely not sexy IMO.

That’s not the cap hit to his new team. Much of that (about 23 mill) gets accelerated and charged to the falcons.
His cap hits to a new team would be
15.3
11.5
11.5

 

[Ring 6]

Agholor was one of the best deep WR last season I believe. I have faith in this Offense. We got Improvements at WR; TE and QB.

And a great OL

 

[Fatmancryin]

That’s not the cap hit to his new team. Much of that (about 23 mill) gets accelerated and charged to the falcons.
His cap hits to a new team would be
15.3
11.5
11.5

Thanks for the clarification