In a surprising move, the New England Patriots released veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne on Tuesday. Bourne as notable as his versatility is his experience. Now, he’s returning for his fifth year with the team after having spent the first four years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers.
Bourne certainly passes the eye test, standing 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. He had his most productive NFL season in 2021, catching 55 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns. That season, with his former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels calling the shots, he had a historic MVP season. Fast forward to now, with McDaniels back in the fold this year. Bourne had expressed excitement about McDaniels’ return, anticipating a revitalization of his role in the Patriots’ offense.
Though he’d had great success in the past, things didn’t go as well for Bourne this year. He hadn’t played since August 1. An injury from an intrasquad scrimmage, in which he got rolled up on, sidelined him for the year. He’s said to be on the verge of making his return to action. When the market for trade talks failed to develop, the Patriots made the decision to cut him loose.
Over the course of his NFL career, Bourne has recorded 292 receptions for 3,714 yards and 22 touchdowns. It was his versatility to play everywhere along the WR depth chart that made him a valuable pass catcher. He was indispensable depth behind guys like Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Mack Hollins.
With Bourne’s departure, the Patriots have a pivotal decision to make on their receiving corps. As Mike Vrabel noted regarding roster changes in general, “Just strengthening our roster, certainly at a premium position.” He further commented on the fluid nature of team compositions: “Each move that we’ll make may not be an indication of what the players are at that position.”
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