Patriots huge receiver Kendrick Bourne is about to hit free company subsequent month.
If Bourne re-signs in New England, don’t anticipate a deal to return a lot ahead of that.
According to a supply, negotiations between the Patriots and Bourne haven’t superior because the staff approached his camp about re-signing shortly after the receiver tore his ACL in late October. Bourne visited the staff facility on Thursday and Friday and is forward of schedule along with his restoration, per supply. He is anticipated to be prepared for the beginning of subsequent season, in keeping with the supply, and draw robust curiosity from different groups, per NFL reporter Aaron Wilson.
NFL free company will formally open with a “legal tampering” interval beginning Monday, March 11. Bourne. It’s not unusual for free-agent talks to warmth up on the NFL mix — scheduled for subsequent week in Indianapolis — or on the eve of free company. However, Bourne is one in every of a number of inside free brokers Patriots decision-makers are juggling, whereas they formulate a plan to rejuvenate their talent-starved roster.
Prior to hurting his knee final season, Bourne was on tempo for a profession yr because the Pats’ No. 1 receiver. He completed with 37 catches for 406 yards and 4 touchdowns in eight video games. He rebounded from a down season in 2022, when he caught 35 passes for 434 yards over 16 sport appearances. Bourne broke out throughout his preliminary season with the Patriots, rating second on the staff with 800 yards and 5 touchdowns on 55 receptions.
The ex-49ers initially signed as a free-agent in 2021, inking a three-year, $15 million cope with a most worth of $22.5 million. Bourne has publicly expressed a need to stay in New England, the place the Patriots are presently scheduled to carry the second-most cap house ($82.9 million) within the league heading into free company. If Bourne fields a number of suitors, he figures to draw groups due to his potential to play each exterior and within the slot, his expertise studying a number of offensive programs and knack for gaining yards after the catch.
DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeMario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte are the Patriots’ solely different receivers beneath contract. Together, with quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, the Pats averaged 180.5 passing yards per sport final yr, fifth-worst within the NFL.
Source: www.bostonherald.com