6 wide receivers Patriots could target in free agency
The Patriots could target a top wideout like Mike Evans this offseason, thanks to their bountiful cap space.
The Patriots have a lot of work to do if they want to right the ship on offense in 2024.
Landing a blue-chip quarterback like UNC’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft stands as the logical path forward for a team that averaged just 13.9 points per game this fall.
But New England’s woes last season didn’t fall solely on the shoulders of a quarterback like Mac Jones.
Be it a dearth of explosive playmakers, a porous offensive line, and more, this Patriots team needs far more than just a new signal-caller if it wants to make gains on the offensive side of the ball.
As tempting as it might be for New England to target arguably the safest option at the top of the draft leaderboard in Ohio State wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. with that No. 3 pick, the Patriots should have several pass-catching options in free agency if the team does take a QB in that coveted draft spot.
According to OverTheCap.com, New England has the third-most cap space in the NFL this spring at $66,032,006.
Here’s a look at some of the top receiver options on the free-agent market if New England plans on bolstering its offense via an offseason spending spree.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
If he gets to the open market, Higgins might just be the most coveted pass-catcher available thanks to his profile as a dynamic “X” receiver, age (25), and impressive body of work after just four seasons in the NFL (24 total touchdowns).
The question, of course, is whether or not Higgins makes it to free agency.
According to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., “the writing is on the wall and all expectations are” that the Bengals will franchise tag Higgins before the March 5 deadline.
Even if Higgins is tagged by the Bengals, they could still end up trading him this offseason if they’re unable to get him to sign a longer-term deal. But it might be a tough ask for New England to both trade valuable assets for Higgins — and then hand him a ton of cash on top of it.
Still, there’s a lot to like about what Higgins could offer New England as a dynamic receiving option on the outside. The 6-foot-4 wideout already has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume in 2021 and 2022 as one of Joe Burrow’s most dependable targets.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Yes, Mike Evans is set to turn 31 years old.
And yes, he’ll command a significant contract in free agency.
But if New England is looking for a proven WR1 with an absurd track record of consistency, Evans might be worth the investment.
Evans has logged 10 total seasons in the NFL, surpassing 1,000 yards in all 10 of those campaigns, and has reeled in double-digit touchdowns five times.
Despite his age, the 6-foot-5 veteran has also avoided significant injury over the years, playing at least 15 games in nine of his 10 seasons.
He thrived during Tom Brady’s three-season run in Tampa, but Evans helped elevate Baker Mayfield during his first season with the Bucs, reeling in 79 catches for 1,255 yards and 13 scores in 2023.
The Patriots haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. Adding a player like Evans would serve as an instant remedy to that extended drought.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Pittman, much like Evans and Higgins, is another big body at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds.
But he’s a bit of a different pass-catching option as a possession receiver capable of moving the chains and bailing out his team during third-down situations.
Even with Gardner Minshew taking most of the snaps at quarterback for the Colts in 2023, Pittman was a productive threat in Indy — reeling in 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.
He has another 1,000-yard season under his belt in 2021, and finished with 99 catches in 2022.
Any young quarterback trying to find their footing in the NFL would benefit from having a safety blanket like Pittman to throw to every Sunday.
Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars
After missing the entire 2022 season due to gambling-related violations, Ridley put together a strong bounce-back season this fall with the Jaguars. In 17 games with Jacksonville, Ridley reeled in 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns.
The former Alabama standout has the tools to be a No. 1 WR in the NFL, with the 29-year-old also racking up 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns during the 2020 season in Atlanta.
At 6-foot-1, Ridley is also a versatile weapon on offense capable of playing both on the outside and as more of an inside threat thanks to his route-running.
Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals
Brown may not be the most imposing presence at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. But the former first-round pick is a proven deep threat who can put secondaries on notice and stretch the field thanks to his 0-to-60 acceleration.
Brown led the Cardinals this season with 51 catches for 574 yards and five touchdowns — good for 11.3 yards per reception.
He may not be a featured option on an NFL offense, but Brown could offer value to a team looking for an outside pass-catcher who also isn’t going to break the bank like Evans or Higgins.
D.J. Chark Jr., Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers, much like the Patriots, were a mess in 2023 — also ranking last in the league at 13.9 points per game.
So even though Chark’s numbers this past season may not leap off the page (35 catches, 525 yards, five touchdowns), one could argue that he should thrive in a new spot after a trying rookie season from Bryce Young.
Of course, it remains to be seen if Foxborough is really the spot for pass-catchers to recoup their value. But the 27-year-old Chark has big-play capabilities (15.0 yards per catch) and a 1,000-yard season back in 2019 with the Jaguars.
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