As the New England Patriots continue to explore all avenues to retool their offense for 2023, the team reportedly is bringing in an old college teammate of quarterback Mac Jones, wide receiver Slade Bolden.
On Tuesday morning, ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss was the first to report the impending workout.
While much of the NFL's attention is focused in Indianapolis at the combine, a note back home: Free-agent WR Slade Bolden is scheduled to work out for the Patriots.
Played at Alabama with Mac Jones, and then under Bill O'Brien. 2022 UDFA with Ravens. Healthy after sports hernia.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) February 28, 2023
So far, Bolden’s NFL career is off to an inauspicious start. The Alabama product went undrafted in 2022 and was signed as a UDFA with the Baltimore Ravens. He was released from the team in mid-October.
During his time with the Crimson Tide, Bolden recorded 68 catches for 712 yards and four touchdowns and even caught a five-yard pass from Mac Jones in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.
His best collegiate season came in 2021 when he tallied 42 receptions for 480 yards and three touchdowns under offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who is now back in New England in the same role.
On a recent podcast, Bolden shared high praise for O’Brien.
“Coach O’Brien is one of my favorite coaches,” Bolden said earlier this month on the “Bama Standard” podcast.
“I think O’Brien is gifted when it comes to calling plays. He is a lot better and a lot more gifted than some people believe he is. I have seen him come up with some stuff that — it’s not necessarily that it didn’t work, it’s we didn’t execute it right.
“I love him as a person, and I feel like we got really close,” Bolden continued. “I liked him as a person just as much as I liked him as an offensive coordinator.”
Whether or not the Patriots are able to help mold Bolden into a productive pro wide receiver remains to be seen. However, the familiarity aspect with both the quarterback and coach might be worth keeping an eye on.
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