The Patriots have a simple plan this offseason: to find a No. 1 wide receiver for young signal-caller Drake Maye.
There are a few ways New England can find their No. 1 wide receiver — through a trade, free agency, or the draft — but they need to make sure Maye gets as much talent around him as possible.
Even though New England has numerous issues in the receiving room, there's also a possibility they will let one walk this offseason.
Yahoo Sports, Frank Schwab published a Patriots offseason preview and listed wide receiver Kendrick Bourne as a possible cut candidate.
"The Patriots don't have a lot of players who are obvious cut candidates. Bourne has a $7.9 million cap number for 2025 but it's not like the Patriots have much receiver depth if they cut him. And it's not like the Patriots need to clear any cap space." Schwab wrote.
Bourne, 29, has been with New England for the past four seasons after spending his first four years with the San Francisco 49ers.
He appeared in 12 games this past season, recording 28 receptions for 305 yards and one touchdown, after recovering from a torn ACL that sidelined him for half of the 2023 campaign.
If the Patriots do indeed cut Bourne, they would only have to pay him $2.8 million in dead cap, according to Spotrac, which would save them $5.1 million.
New England isn't hurting for money, as they have over $123 million in cap space this offseason. Releasing a wide receiver who has been productive when healthy to save a few million isn't the way to go, especially when the position is such a significant need.
