With the Patriots’ 2017 season done, we’re going to take a look back at the team by position, and provide a few thoughts as to what they might need at that spot moving forward. We’ve covered quarterback, tight end and running back. Now, we take a look at wide receiver:
2017 depth chart: Danny Amendola (61 catches, 659 yards, 2 TDs), Brandin Cooks (65 catches, 1,082 yards, 7 TDs), Chris Hogan (34 catches, 439 yards, 5 TDs), Kenny Britt (2 caches, 23 yards), Phillip Dorsett (12 catches, 194 yards). Julian Edelman and Malcolm Mitchell ended the year on injured reserve.
Contract status: Amendola (free agent), Britt (signed through 2018), Cooks (signed through 2018), Dorsett (signed through 2019), Hogan (signed through 2018), Edelman (signed through 2019), Mitchell (signed through 2019).
Overview: This group seemed to be fighting a battle with one hand tied behind its back all season. There was no Edelman or Mitchell all year, which set them back and likely necessitated the addition of the likes of Dorsett and Britt for depth, if nothing else. Meanwhile, a shoulder injury to Hogan limited him to nine regular-season games. To be truthful, he probably came back too quickly and was only truly effective for maybe five or six of those regular-season games. As a result, the Patriots put more on the shoulders of Amendola and Cooks. Amendola had his time to shine in the postseason, where he and Gronkowski powered the Patriots passing game. Meanwhile, Cooks was occasionally inconsistent, but still ended up as one of the best deep threats in the league. All in all, it was a good year, considering the injuries, but certainly not an ideal one.
Best Moment: Cooks had some big moments, including terrific work early in the year against the Texans and Raiders (which we highlighted in the quarterbacking review piece). But it’s awfully hard to argue against Amendola’s performance in the postseason. In the three playoff games, Amendola had 26 catches on 33 targets (a catch rate of 79 percent) for 348 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That included 11 catches against the Titans in the division round, seven against the Jaguars in the AFC title game and eight (for 152 yards) in the Super Bowl against the Eagles. Here were our three favorites, in no particular order:
First, there was this reception against the Titans. This play is certainly not the flashiest one on the scoresheet, as it only went for 12 yards, but it’s a great example of something that Donte Stallworth has always talked about when it comes to being a receiver in the New England offense: You never give up on a play. There are roughly eight seconds between snap and reception here, but Amendola stays aware of the play and his surroundings at all times and comes away with a great catch.
Second, Amendola was the guy who jumpstarted the New England offense with this third-down reception in the third quarter against the Jaguars. With the Patriots in a hole and facing the possibility of punting out of their own end, this will be remembered as one of the two or three most important receptions of the season.
The third was the catch that turned out to be the game-winner against Jacksonville. Amendola flashes a wide variety of skills on this one, including excellent short-area quickness and his tip-toe act along the back line to make sure the catch is good for a score.
Worst Moment: We highlighted the 27-20 loss to the Dolphins in Miami when it came to the quarterback and the running game, but in this case, it can also be used for the receivers. There was zero separation, zero fight for 50-50 balls and a general sense of malaise in this one when it came to the passing game. There was Gronkowski and a banged-up Hogan, so you have to take all that into account. But it was a miserable night for the receivers, who accounted for less than half of the passing yardage on the night.
By the numbers: Since the start of the 2016 season, only two wide receivers have 80 or more catches and a catch rate of 73 percent or better in the regular season: Amendola and Cordarelle Patterson. Amendola is also the only Patriots wide receiver who has a catch rate of 72 percent or better who has at least 50 receptions.
—Cooks had 15 catches of 25 yards or more, tied for third in the league in 2017 and second in franchise history. In addition, Cooks’ seven catches of 40-plus yards was tied for second in the league with Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown.
A few thoughts about the position: Amendola is a free agent, and if this past postseason was his farewell to New England, it was a hell of a final act. While Edelman and Mitchell will provide some much-needed depth at the spot in 2018, Hogan should be back at something close to 100 percent, and we are fairly certain Cooks should be good for another 1,000-yard campaign, I'm very interested in seeing what Britt and Dorsett can do with a full offseason in the system. Britt was acknowledged by many of his teammates as someone who was buying in late in the year. Meanwhile, Dorsett didn't have the sort of production some anticipated, but he did everything that was asked of him, including work as a very willing blocker. It probably wasn't the way either one of them envisioned their respective seasons going, but talking to teammates and coaches, it was clear both showed enough in 2017 to spark some optimism about their potential to contribute in 2018 and beyond.
Chance Patriots address this position in free agency: Slim to moderate. Given the fact that they have Edelman and Mitchell coming back, Cooks and Hogan under contact and Dorsett and Britt in the building (not to mention the practice squadders who made a few brief cameos this year like Bernard Reedy), I can’t imagine they’d be interested in taking too deep a dive into free agency. If they find a way to keep Amendola, that would fill out the receivers’ room nicely.
That being said, here are two quick names — a long shot and a historical angle. First is Jarvis Landry. Bill Belichick has always been high on Landry, and has frequently considered him the No. 1 option in the Miami offense. (Remember this?)
Bill Belichick's game plan against the @MiamiDolphins?
Put multiple @Patriots defenders on @God_Son80.#GoPats#TurningPoint @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/8ECZ9zsdA9
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) November 30, 2017