Another veteran slot receiver option for the New England Patriots reportedly is hitting the open market.

The New York Jets plan to release wide receiver Braxton Berrios next week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported Thursday. Berrios entered the NFL with the Patriots as a sixth-round pick in 2018, but he never played in a regular season game with New England.

Berrios spent his rookie season on injured reserve and was part of New England’s roster cuts in 2019, with the Patriots electing to keep undrafted rookies Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski over him.

The Patriots let Olszewski walk in free agency last offseason and now Meyers is set to be an unrestricted free agent next week as one of the top available wide receivers. If the Patriots aren’t willing to pay up for Meyers, Berrios could be a decent option to take over his role in the slot. The Patriots recently showed interest in another undersized slot receiver when they brought in Slade Bolden for a workout.

Berrios’ best season came in 2021 with the Jets when he caught 46 passes for 431 yards with two touchdowns. He has 107 catches for 1,085 yards with five touchdowns plus 19 carries for 160 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in his career. Berrios has also contributed as a punt and kick returner in New York with 767 career punt return yards and 1,667 kick return yards with a touchdown.

Last season, Berrios caught just 18 passes for 145 yards and carried the ball nine times for 91 yards with two touchdowns. He returned 21 punts for 240 yards and 26 kicks for 600 yards. He also completed one pass for a 2-yard touchdown.

He signed a two-year, $12 million contract with New York last offseason. Cutting Berrios will free up $5 million in cap space but result in $3.2325 million in dead money.

The Patriots would have to add more wide receiver help with another veteran addition or draft pick if they replace Meyers with Berrios, but the former Miami Hurricane is a player New England wanted to bring back to the practice squad after cutting him in 2019. He might be a bargain again after his two-year, $12 million contract extension didn't work out in New York.

Featured image via Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports