FOXBORO, Mass. — Since last Wednesday, we’ve gotten four close looks at one of the most maligned receiver groups in the NFL. So, are New England Patriots wideouts as bad as everyone believes, or could the group outperform expectations?
Well, we won’t know for a while, and the real test begins Monday when the Patriots hold their first padded practice. But with four non-padded practices now in the books, it feels like a good time to offer brief notes on all 12 Patriots receivers.
Takeaways on All 12 Patriots Receivers After One Week of Training Camp
Ja’Lynn Polk
If the season started today, Ja’Lynn Polk would probably be New England’s No. 1 receiver, at least in the traditional sense. DeMario Douglas arguably has more talent and explosiveness, but Polk is the bigger, more versatile option, and — unlike Douglas — he’s been a full participant in team drills.
We’ve watched Polk practice seven times dating back to the spring. It’s not a stretch to say he hasn’t had one bad practice and has been the Patriots’ most consistent receiver day in and day out. The second-round pick won’t blow you away, but he’s more athletic than advertised, runs great routes, and is surehanded.
The rookie gets open vs. the vet.
Ja'Lynn Polk, who has been given some serious looks in camp so far, breaks free in one-on-one drills and gets the crowd involved in the endzone.@ABC6 #NEPats @jpolk_22 pic.twitter.com/9qdhM5i1U5
— Ian Steele (@RealianSteele6) July 28, 2024
Things could change once the pads come on. But at this point, given how quickly Polk has picked up the offense, he could be primed for a big role right away.
DeMario Douglas
Douglas didn’t participate in team drills over the first four practices due to a minor (left) hand injury but fully participated in individual drills. However, during spring practices, Douglas was the most productive receiver on the field and the clear top option among pass catchers.
Talent isn’t the question with Douglas, nor is his speed; he can be New England’s knockoff Tyreek Hill. The 5’8″ slot receiver just needs to stay on the field.
Javon Baker
Javon Baker broke out on Sunday with his best practice of camp. The fourth-round rookie showcased his big-play potential while playing with a ton of flair and swagger. Baker caught two passes in team drills and was a standout in 1-on-1s, as you’ll see in the clip below.
When you look at Polk, Baker, and Douglas, it’s easy to envision the Patriots’ receiver room exceeding expectations. The group is light on experience but heavy on talent.
Javon Baker cooking at Training Camp 🔥
–#patriots #nfl #pats #newenglandpatriots
Patriots Coverage Powered by @Gametime @PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/IY67tCOe6s— Patriots on CLNS Media (@PatriotsCLNS) July 28, 2024
With Baker, the worries are whether he can pick up the offense quickly enough and whether his reported off-field issues are overblown. You also have to wonder how his brashness during media availabilities — a trend that continued Sunday — plays behind closed doors.
Kendrick Bourne
Kendrick Bourne continues to rehab the torn ACL he suffered last October. The veteran receiver participated in stretching drills for the first time on Sunday, indicating he could be nearing a return.
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It remains to be seen whether Bourne will be ready for the start of the season. But if he can recapture his pre-injury form at some point in 2024, the ceiling for New England’s wideout room would increase exponentially.
K.J. Osborn
K.J. Osborn wasn’t bad over the first four practices, but he was somewhat disappointing. The former Minnesota Vikings receiver arrived in New England as a potential big-play target, but to this point, he’s been little more than a possession receiver with occasional drop issues.
Osborn is likely a roster lock, and the Patriots will need a veteran receiver if Bourne begins the season on PUP and/or JuJu Smith-Schuster is sent packing.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
If you were hoping the offseason would help Smith-Schuster rest his ailing knee and return to his old self, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Smith-Schuster has been invisible in practices outside of a few short receptions. He can’t separate, has zero juice after the catch, and sometimes looks as if he’s practicing in slow motion. It’s hard to craft any argument for him earning a spot on the initial 53-man roster.
Tyquan Thornton
This is a make-or-break camp for Tyquan Thornton, who was a major disappointment in his first two seasons. The 2022 second-round pick’s speed remains elite, and he bulked up over the offseason — a necessary change.
However, Thornton’s been inconsistent in team drills. He’ll be heavily involved one day, then a non-factor the next. We saw Thornton excel in practices the last two years only to disappear once the pads came on. That’s a trend he’ll need to reverse this summer if he wants any chance of making the roster.
Kayshon Boutte
Kayshon Boutte deserves a ton of credit. He was a polarizing draft pick last year, arriving in Foxboro with a bad reputation and low expectations. But he steadily improved throughout camp and beat the odds to make the Week 1 roster.
Boutte could’ve allowed his offseason gambling controversy to impact his practice performance in the spring, but he was one of the top performers in minicamp. And with the charges now dropped, Boutte has been consistently productive in training camp. He also said all the right things on Sunday when asked about his legal issues.
Drake Maye with a BOMB to Kayshon Boutte on Christian Gonzalez 🔥
Patriots Coverage Powered by @Gametime @PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/4P46OMxT7T
— Patriots on CLNS Media (@PatriotsCLNS) July 28, 2024
With all that said, Boutte is more of a possession receiver with upside than a true big-play threat. That should give him an edge over someone like Smith-Schuster, but it still might not be enough for him to make the roster. He’s trending in the right direction, though.
Jalen Reagor
If we had to bet right now, Jalen Reagor would make the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster. He’s been one of their most consistent receivers all offseason and provides added value as an elite kick returner.
Drake Maye with the effortless deep shot 🎯
(via @patriots)
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Unlike Thornton, Reagor has translated his high-end speed to actual on-field production, and he’s always involved in team drills. At this point, his penchant for drops hasn’t been an issue. We’ll see if that changes once the pads come on, but so far, so good.
David Wallis
The final three receivers on this list — David Wallis, Kawaan Baker, and JaQuae Jackson — all are roster longshots and rarely participate in team drills. There isn’t much to go on, but we’ll still leave a few notes.
Marcus Jones sticks with the play and rips the ball AND his receivers' helmet off in one-on-one drills.@ABC6 #NEPats @MarcusJonesocho pic.twitter.com/qSa4yEQ47v
— Ian Steele (@RealianSteele6) July 28, 2024
Of the three, Wallis arguably has been the most productive and busy during team drills. He’s a popular target when Joe Milton III and Bailey Zappe are on the field, and he’s shown decent hands. Wallis could be a decent practice squad player.
Kawaan Baker
Baker hasn’t shown much, and he seems to have route/communication issues during team drills. He’ll need to perform well during the preseason to have any chance of returning to the practice squad.
Drake Maye to Kawaan Baker pic.twitter.com/62H1LYX96z
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) June 12, 2024
JaQuae Jackson
Jackson, an undrafted rookie, is in the same boat as Baker. He hasn’t done much with his limited opportunities and needs to perform well in the preseason.
Still, as a member of the Patriots’ UDFA class, Jackson might be someone whom coaches want to continue working with on the practice squad.