A confident Kendrick Bourne is ready to earn a spot in crowded Patriots receiver room

"It was never the confidence in my mind. It was just the mind and body being connected to do exactly what I was trying to do."

Kendrick Bourne is looking for a bounce-back season in 2025. John Tlumacki/Boston Globe Staff

May 13, 2025

3 minutes to read

Kendrick Bourne, like a majority of his Patriots teammates, had a season to forget in 2024.

Even though the 29-year-old wide receiver returned to the field after tearing his ACL in October 2023, he was limited over his 12 games played during the 2024 campaign. He reeled in just 28 catches for 305 total yards and one touchdown.

Despite earning a clean bill of health, the veteran wideout was perpetually playing catch-up last year — especially after missing the Patriots’ entire OTA schedule and training camp while on the mend. After getting the green light to play, Bourne’s repaired knee still needed some time to acclimate back to game speed.

But those same limitations are not longer holding Bourne back entering the 2025 season, giving the poised wideout hope that he can take another major step forward with New England this fall.

“It was never the confidence in my mind. It was just the mind and body being connected to do exactly what I was trying to do,” Bourne said Tuesday morning at Gillette Stadium. “Because sometimes you come from injury, it can be a movement, and your body doesn’t go how you thought it was going to go. It makes you question your confidence. So I’m eliminating that now. Where I’m at, I’m just thankful.”

Even with his track record as a dependable pass-catcher over his tenure in New England, Bourne will need to make a strong case for himself during training camp, especially given the number of wideout options currently on the Patriots’ depth chart.

Beyond Bourne, the Patriots also have Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte on the roster, as well as several second-year pros in Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, and John Jiles.

New England further bolstered their receiver corps during the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting dynamic playmaker Kyle Williams in the third round (No. 69 overall) while also bringing in undrafted free agents Efton Chisholm, Demeer Blankumsee, and Jeremiah Webb.

Even with the presence of several younger pass-catchers on New England’s roster, Bourne is confident that he can solidify his spot as a steady target for Drake Maye in 2025.

“Do the best I can when we go out to practice or we’re in the meetings. Just put my best foot forward,” Bourne said of the expected competition among Patriots wideouts this spring and summer. “I think that always plays itself out, but not trying too hard. I think that becomes an issue when you try to overthink, you try to do too much to control the outcome. When you just let it flow and let it come to you, study what you’re supposed to do.

“I really feel good about where I’m at, because coming in, throwing last year was tough, coming off an injury was really tough on me. I actually underestimated it. So, this year I feel really, really strong, really polished, and just banking on that.”

Beyond a clean bill of health, Bourne should also benefit from the return of Josh McDaniels as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator.

Bourne had the best season of his NFL career during McDaniels’ latest stint as the team’s OC in 2021 — finishing the year with 55 catches for 800 yards, and five touchdowns as a top option for Mac Jones.

“I had my best year under him … but I’m not banking on that,” Bourne said of McDaniels. “I work every year. Every year’s different … but understanding that, relationships are big in this league. And if I can build off of that, it will help me in whatever area that is.

“But I love his offense. I’m familiar with it. I just kind of know where I fit in, play to play, different things. I just try to excel at what he wants me to do.”

The top determinant as to just how dynamic New England’s offense will be in 2025 will revolve around Maye and just how many strides the second-year QB can make this upcoming season.

Even during these early stages of the Patriots’ offseason workout program, Bourne has been impressed with what he’s seen from his quarterback.

“The confidence is there. Drake is a competitor,” Bourne said. “When we do certain things, like his competitive spirit is starting to show more, in my opinion, which I love. Coming out of that shell you know he’s gonna become a vet. So I think that’s what he’s embracing. He understands.

“He’s familiar with what to expect, what to feel, and that just creates a better, confident quarterback going into Year 2.