The New England Patriots have one big glaring need: They need good players after finishing the 2022 season 8-9 and outside the playoffs.

Beyond the obvious, the Patriots need more NFL-caliber bodies on their roster at wide receiver. With Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor hitting free agency, New England is left with just Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Raleigh Webb on their active roster and Lynn Bowden and Tre Nixon signed to future deals.

In an ideal world, the Patriots would re-sign Jakobi Meyers, but the free-agent wide receiver pool is diminished, which means he will likely sign a lucrative contract on the open market. Last year saw Michael Gallup, Allen Robinson and Christian Kirk sign deals ranging between $11.5 million and $18 million per year. Meyers is worth it as one of the more underrated wide receivers in the NFL. It would also be understandable if New England doesn’t want to reach the high end of that range since it seems unlikely that Meyers will ascend higher than his current level of play with the Patriots. Agholor caught just 68 passes for 835 yards with five touchdowns in two seasons with New England after signing a two-year, $22 million contract that nearly everyone other than the Patriots and their most unconditional fans could see going south from the minute the two parties agreed. So, he’s unlikely to come back after a disappointing tenure.

If Meyers and Agholor both leave in free agency, then New England needs to sign players replace their roles in the offense.

It’s worth noting here that the Patriots were in attendance, as we reported they would be, at Odell Beckham Jr.’s workout with 12 other teams. You might look at that and say that since there were less than half of the NFL’s teams there and since New England was one of them, the team must be high on Beckham. That wasn’t the impression I got before the workout and that the Patriots’ presence there was more about checking a box and doing their due diligence. Now, is it possible that the Patriots could sign him? Sure, if he doesn’t have a strong market. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick loves a value. New England showed interest in 2021, as well, but I can also understand the team wanting to bring in wide receivers they can count on, and Beckham unfortunately isn’t that player after missing a full season with a torn ACL.

The Patriots will need a wide receiver with Meyers’ ability to get open and Agholor’s speed if they don’t return in free agency.

So, who’s out there with those abilities?

New England will need someone to man the slot. New York Giants free agent Richie James is a player who just thrived in Brian Daboll’s offense and could have his best football in front of him. James caught 68 passes on 82 targets for 651 yards with four touchdowns overall last season, and 54 of those receptions on 66 targets for 551 yards with three touchdowns came out of the slot. James was the most productive slot receiver who is set to hit free agency. Next on that list (after Meyers) is Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell, who caught 63 passes on 85 targets for 623 yards with three touchdowns. Of those, 47 catches for 462 yards with three touchdowns came from the slot. Other free-agent receivers with experience in the slot include JuJu Smith-Schuster, Olamide Zaccheaus, DeAndre Carter, Jarvis Landry and Braxton Berrios. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver also should be considered a wide receiver with a special ability to get open. He could be traded this offseason.

James, Campbell and Berrios seem like the best fits. They all would cost less than Meyers. Campbell also was the NFL’s fastest ball carrier last season at 22.11 MPH on a 26-yard run.

The Patriots do have a speedy wide receiver on their roster in 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, but there isn’t much certainly with him after a spotty rookie season. There are only a handful of true field-stretchers in this year’s free-agent class. Beckham would qualify. So would D.J. Chark, Robbie Anderson, Mecole Hardman and Scotty Miller.

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