Kendrick Bourne reportedly likely to hit free agency and have strong interest
Bourne is coming off an ACL tear, but it appears he'll still have a strong market.
The Patriots’ top receiver appears likely to hit the open market.
Kendrick Bourne isn’t expected to have a deal in place with the Patriots when free agency opens in March and is believed to have strong interest in the open market, KPRC’s Aaron Wilson reported Friday. Additionally, contract talks between Bourne and the Patriots “haven’t advanced” in recent months after the team opened discussions during the season, The Boston Herald‘s Andrew Callahan reported Saturday.
There was speculation on social media in recent days that Bourne might have been close to a deal with the Patriots. Bourne’s agent, Henry Organ, indicated he was at Gillette Stadium in an Instagram story on Thursday, tagging Bourne’s Instagram account. Additionally, Organ had Migos’ “New Money” playing in the background of the post, leaving some to think he implying that a deal might be on the table.
That doesn’t appear to be the case though. The three-year, $15 million deal Boune signed with the Patriots in 2021 is set to expire in the coming weeks a free agency opens on March 13, two weeks from Wednesday. The “legal tampering” period will open two days earlier, allowing prospective free agents to negotiate deals with other teams.
Bourne has had the best seasons of his seven-year career in New England, recording career bests in receptions (55), receiving yards (800), and receiving touchdowns (five) in 2021. He appeared poised to break those marks in 2023, recording 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns before tearing his ACL in Week 8, ending his season.
In encouraging news, Bourne is ahead of schedule in his ACL rehab and is expected to be ready by the start of the start of the 2024 season, according to Callahan. Bourne had surgery on the injured knee in November.
Bourne has stated on multiple occasions that he’d like to remain in New England despite the offense’s woes over the last two years.
“I want to come back [to New England]. That is a goal of mine. I love being a Patriot — it’s a great environment for a person like me,” Bourne reportedly told ESPN’s Mike Reiss earlier this offseason. “Being a Patriot helped me grow into the player I am today. I’m thankful for the organization, but you never know. I’ve been in free agency before and I didn’t know what would happen. And I don’t know now.”
Bourne has also praised the Patriots’ decision to promote Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick as head coach, telling 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand” that Mayo’s “the guy. He’s the right fit.”
Bourne was at the Patriots’ facilities at Gillette Stadium as recently as Thursday and Friday, according to Callahan.
Even with Bourne, the Patriots have had shaky production at wide receiver over the last couple of seasons. They’ve been among the worst in the league at getting separation over the last two years and sixth-round rookie Demario Douglas led the team in receiving this season with just 49 receptions for 561 yards.
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