It appears as though the New England Patriots’ shiny new toys might be alleviating the role that nine year NFL veteran Kendrick Bourne plays in Foxboro.
The wideout turns 30-years-old in seven days (happy early birthday Kendrick) and has been with the Patriots since 2021. In his first year with the team, the wideout hauled in 800 receiving yards and tied his career high with five touchdowns. This was year one of his original three-year, $22.5 million deal.
He resigned with the Pats last season on another three-year agreement, this time bringing home more than $19.5 million. However, in year one of his new deal he recorded just 305 yards in 12 games played.
Now new reports suggest that Bourne is once again on the outside looking in at this new receiver rotation.
“There was a moment late last week in practice when the Patriots split into two distinct groups,” reported ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “The starters were closer to the end zone near the hillside, while the reserves were on the opposite side of the field.”
In the group on the other side of the field stood Bourne alongside two rookie receivers. Not exactly the company you’d expect a nine year vet to keep.
“You love to have challenge, the environment of competition, which really brings the best out,” Bourne said of the crowded receiver room. “I think the cards are going to play out how the cards are going to play out. I don’t have any predictions. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do, and the room needs to have that mindset.”
What Happens To Ja’Lynn Polk And Javon Baker
There is a pair of Patriots investments who have not found their way into the current news cycle, and that’s the young wide receiver duo of Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.
Polk was selected early in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and, notably, before Mike Vrabel and his new staff arrived. With the arrival of Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, along with the drafting and signing of Kyle Williams and Efton Chism, the former Washington University standout might find himself as the eighth wide receiver in the room.
Things are even more bleak for Javon Baker. Baker was a fourth round selection in that same draft and in year one he caught just one pass on four targets. Baker feels like a long shot to start the season on the active 53-man.
Is Kendrick Bourne Trade Bait?
If you’re asking me, I think Bourne has plenty of worth in this Patriots room. Chism will contribute on all special teams, so his addition doesn’t hurt the final roster as much. But at this point in his career, Bourne really is strictly a pass catcher.
This leads SI writer Matthew Schmidt to ask whether or not the trade market should be explored on the longest tenured Patriots wideout.
“The Eastern Washington product has long been viewed as a potential trade or cut candidate for the Patriots, but at this point, he may not have much trade value anymore,” Schmidt wrote.
Loyalty only gets you so far in the NFL. So, while many fans would love to see the always-smiling Kendrick Bourne on the final roster, when the decision is between him and a young second rounder like Ja’Lynn Polk, it could get ugly.
