The Patriots Wide Receiver Myth
Written by: Wayne G
Patriots Endzone
The 1992 courtroom comedy My Cousin Vinny is one of my all-time favorite films, and one of the most quotable movies for anyone who has ever seen it. The upcoming NFL Draft, particularly as it relates to the New England Patriots, calls back to the scene in the prison where Vinny is explaining the prosecutions strategy to the two "utes". Holding a playing card he says, "His whole case is an illusion. A magic trick."
So too is the narrative drilled into the brains of Patriots fans across the country, that they need to take a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft. The idea that a wide receiver in round one, especially in this draft, would be a game changer is not only false, but is so far from the truth it's actually preposterous. Let's cut through the B.S. and start ignoring the pundits with the logos on their jacket, whose opinions are no more valid than those of the average high schooler.
Our Burning Desires
For years, Patriots fans have been pining away for a big, fast, talented wide receiver. The secret weapon to enhance the talents of their quarterback (mostly Brady), and take the Patriots to the promised land. Oh, the number of Lombardi trophies that would have been hoisted if he had someone like Calvin Johnson or Julio Jones. The Patriots would be unbeatable, and records would fall like leaves in autumn. The notion is not real, at least not 100% correct. It has been perpetuated not by the smartest of New England fans, but rather the loudest of them. And what they fail to mention, is that is has been tried, and it has failed.
Let's look at the afore mentioned receivers to start. Calvin Johnson is in the hall of fame, and has donned the yellow jacket, but missing from his ensemble at his enshrinement, hand jewelry. Julio Jones is sure to join him in Canton someday, and he too, despite playing with Tom Brady, will not sport a super bowl championship ring. The loudmouths will counter that those two did not play in New England with Brady, under the greatest coach of all-time. But someone did.
You Got Mossed!!
The Patriots did have a big, strong, fast, talented wide receiver not too long ago. Randy Moss, considered by a great number of football fans to be the greatest wide receiver ever, and 2nd best (Jerry Rice) by everyone else. He didn't join the Patriots as a has been, or with a bum quarterback like Mac Jones. He was in his prime, and joined Tom Brady, also in his prime. He was fun to watch, and the records did fall. Passing touchdowns and receiving touchdowns records belonged to the New England Patriots. In 2018, when Randy Moss walked up on the stage to give his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, he too, was missing a championship ring. 18-1 is not the same as 19-0. Even that season, with all those records, he didn't catch the most passes on the team, nor was he targeted the most on the team. That was an undrafted receiver they signed as a free agent.
In fact, during the Patriots six super bowl winning seasons, their leading receivers were an 8th round pick, a 2nd round pick, a 7th round pick, a 7th round pick, a 7th round pick, and a 4th round pick. None of them big, and none of them legendary outside the northeast.
The 2023 Receiver Room
The top 3 names on the current depth chart at wide receiver for the Patriots right now are Juju Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and Kendrick Bourne. They also have two tight ends that will demand a few targets in Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry. Not the most talented group in the league, but very good. There is no actual need to add a WR1 or WR2, despite what you may have read or heard, but the receiver room could certainly use some depth. For this reason, it is important to address the receiver position in the draft and with remaining free agents on small, non-guaranteed deals (I have been advocating for Kenny Golladay). The Patriots, however, do not need to address the position in round 1 or even in round 2. In fact, it would be a mistake to do that.
The 2023 Receiver Draft Class
There is no Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, or Randy moss in this years draft class. There isn't that huge, take the top off the defense, playmaker, and even if there was, he wouldn't be there at 14. He'd be drafted top 5 or top 10 like the guys I just mentioned (Moss dropped because of character issues).
In fact, a receiver like that would be Marvin Harrison Jr out of Ohio State, but he won't be available until 2024. A lot of talk has surrounded Zay Flowers out of Boston College, a 5'9 rusher who runs a blazing 4.45 forty. Do you really want to use your first round pick on Brandin Cooks 2.0?
Especially when a player like Nathaniel "Tank" Dell will be there on day 3, and is the same size, runs the same 40 time, is praised for the same quick twitch ability, and put up better numbers last season. I'm in favor of the Patriots drafting receiver, in fact I think they HAVE to, and hope they take multiple receivers. But don't do it before round 4. That's called wasting your draft capital, and is the draft equivalent of throwing $100 bills into a lit fireplace. Address the offensive line and defensive secondary. Take an edge late. And then, take as many wideouts as your heart desires.
Wayne G is the host of Patriots Endzone, a weekly Youtube program covering the New England Patriots. Their channel is here. Make sure to follow them on twitter as well, @PatriotsEZ
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