From the Pats 2019 roster thread, here's who they currently have:
WIDE RECEIVER (13)
Julian Edelman
Josh Gordon (suspended)
Demaryius Thomas
Phillip Dorsett
N’Keal Harry
Bruce Ellington
Maurice Harris
Braxton Berrios
Damoun Patterson
Jakobi Meyers UDFA
Xavier Ubosi UDFA
Ryan Davis UDFA
Matthew Slater ST
Now this team has won Super Bowls with the following main guys as receivers:
2001-02: Brown, Patten, Johnson
2003-04: Brown, Branch, Givens, Johnson, Patten
2004-05: Givens, Branch, Patten, Brown
2014-15: Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Thompkins, Tyms, Dobson (had Gronk)
2016-17: Edelman, Amendola, Hogan, Mitchell, Floyd (Gronk injured)
2018-19: Edelman, Patterson, Hogan, Gordon (some), Dorsett (had Gronk)
Let's be honest. That isn't exactly a who's who of NFL wide receivers. Solid players. But they've proven they can win Super Bowls with a modest receiving corps *even when they don't have Gronk* (like in 2016-17).
I like the current WR crop. Especially so if Thomas is even 85% of his peak, and Gordon returns. That would make for a tremendous group: Edelman, Thomas, Gordon, Harry, Dorsett, Ellington, Harris. Lots of talent there.
Definitely hurts to not have Gronk, but again, they've won Super Bowls without Gronk. Having this WR corps and versatile RBs, along with a punishing running game, should be sufficient.
If Thomas is useless and Gordon doesn't come back, I think they need some help at WR still, but even then, I think Edelman, Dorsett, Harry, Ellington, Harris, and Berrios (I guess) isn't a terrible group. But they'd better be able to run the ball and use play-action.
What guys might they still be able to add, or do you all think this is basically what they'll roll with?
WIDE RECEIVER (13)
Julian Edelman
Josh Gordon (suspended)
Demaryius Thomas
Phillip Dorsett
N’Keal Harry
Bruce Ellington
Maurice Harris
Braxton Berrios
Damoun Patterson
Jakobi Meyers UDFA
Xavier Ubosi UDFA
Ryan Davis UDFA
Matthew Slater ST
Now this team has won Super Bowls with the following main guys as receivers:
2001-02: Brown, Patten, Johnson
2003-04: Brown, Branch, Givens, Johnson, Patten
2004-05: Givens, Branch, Patten, Brown
2014-15: Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Thompkins, Tyms, Dobson (had Gronk)
2016-17: Edelman, Amendola, Hogan, Mitchell, Floyd (Gronk injured)
2018-19: Edelman, Patterson, Hogan, Gordon (some), Dorsett (had Gronk)
Let's be honest. That isn't exactly a who's who of NFL wide receivers. Solid players. But they've proven they can win Super Bowls with a modest receiving corps *even when they don't have Gronk* (like in 2016-17).
I like the current WR crop. Especially so if Thomas is even 85% of his peak, and Gordon returns. That would make for a tremendous group: Edelman, Thomas, Gordon, Harry, Dorsett, Ellington, Harris. Lots of talent there.
Definitely hurts to not have Gronk, but again, they've won Super Bowls without Gronk. Having this WR corps and versatile RBs, along with a punishing running game, should be sufficient.
If Thomas is useless and Gordon doesn't come back, I think they need some help at WR still, but even then, I think Edelman, Dorsett, Harry, Ellington, Harris, and Berrios (I guess) isn't a terrible group. But they'd better be able to run the ball and use play-action.
What guys might they still be able to add, or do you all think this is basically what they'll roll with?