New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots trimmed their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday, but that didn’t stop them from making more moves on Wednesday, as they released a pair of wide receivers, Kendrick Bourne and Javon Baker.
After keeping eight wide receivers on their 53-man roster, it always seemed likely that another move would be made at this position. With quarterback Tommy Devito and cornerback Charles Woods coming to town, the team ultimately decided to let go of Bourne and Baker.
For the time being, the Patriots still have six wide receivers at their disposal, which is a decent number. However, with Jakobi Meyers requesting a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders recently, the team has been linked to a move for him after their latest cuts.
“BREAKING: New England Patriots are planning to RELEASE talented WR Javon Baker, whom they drafted last year… so no Bourne, Baker, Polk… getting Jakobi Meyers??” NFL insider John Frascella wrote in a post on X.
Meyers, of course, got his start in the NFL with the Pats, breaking in with them as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He would go on to become their No. 1 wide receiver, putting together his best season in 2021, catching 83 passes for 866 yards and two touchdowns.
After the 2022 season, the front office made the confusing decision to let Meyers walk in free agency, instead opting to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster. That signing quickly went up in flames, while Meyers caught 87 passes for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns with Las Vegas last season.
Heading into the final year of his deal, Meyers wants a new contract, but he hasn’t gotten one yet, which led to his trade request. With the Patriots still needing help at wide receiver, and Meyers having familiarity with the team, it isn’t a surprise to see rumors of a potential trade popping up.
Whether or not a trade could actually happen remains to be seen, and it is worth noting that New England is still well-stocked at this spot. However, they could use another star on offense, and if Meyers is available for the right price, the Pats should pounce.
