The New England Patriots shocked the world with the Stefon Diggs signing, giving franchise quarterback Drake Maye a proven weapon to be the top option in his passing attack. However, this signing could come at the expense of veteran Kendrick Bourne, as the longtime Patriot could be on the trade block. Originally entering the league with the San Francisco 49ers, the Eastern Washington product spent the past four seasons in New England with varying success.
Working his way back from a season-ending knee injury, Bourne didn’t look like his old explosive self during the 2024 season. Appearing in 12 games while making nine starts, the veteran recorded just 28 receptions for 305 yards and one touchdown. He should be better in 2025 now that he’s a full year removed from his torn ACL, but he may not have the opportunity to prove himself with New England.
Assuming he’s healthy for Week 1, Diggs will be the top option in this passing attack, while DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte will serve as depth options. 2024 draft picks Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker didn’t do anything to inspire confidence as rookies, but it’s too early to give up on either player. This means that barring injuries, five of the 53 spots on the Week 1 roster are already set in stone. Kendrick Bourne won’t fetch a large return on the trade market, but the rebuilding Patriots could use every draft pick they can get and several teams could part with a late-round pick for Bourne’s services.
Patriots Could Trade Kendrick Bourne After Stefon Diggs Signing
Top Fits
Los Angeles Chargers
Head coach Jim Harbaugh believes in the power of the run game, but he still needs to throw the ball to compete with conference powerhouses like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens. While they have the personnel to impose their will on the ground, they need someone to complement wide receiver Ladd McConkey. At his best, Kendrick Bourne is fantastic after the catch and should fit in well with an accurate quarterback like Justin Herbert. While he’s not a 100-catch type of guy, his style of play should open up passing lanes and force defenses to respect the aerial attack.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints have done the impossible, as they dug their way out of salary cap hell without mortgaging the future. This team is not a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but Kellen Moore’s club could compete in a wide-open NFC South if they make one or two additional moves. The wide receiver duo of Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed is solid enough, but Olave’s extensive concussion history means this team should add another set of hands. Kendrick Bourne shouldn’t cost too much in a trade, and the veteran will provide some much-needed insurance on the depth chart.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders already traded for Deebo Samuel, but that shouldn’t stop them from being aggressive. This team has the biggest competitive advantage in sports, a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract. A trade would give Washington one of the league’s deeper receiving trios, as Kendrick Bourne, Deebo Samuel, and Terry McLaurin could work wonders for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers are a high-risk, high-reward bunch. Xavier Worthy has yet to prove he can be a consistent part of the passing attack, Rashee Rice is coming back from injury, and nobody knows what a healthy Marquise Brown can do in this passing attack. This team could use some veteran security, and a Kendrick Bourne trade could be a way to reach that goal. As mentioned earlier, Bourne excels after the catch, and nobody is better at scheming players open than Andy Reid.
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The post Breaking: Patriots Veteran On Trade Block Following Stefon Diggs Signing appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.