The New England Patriots face a challenging decision regarding arguably their top wide receiver in recent years. Kendrick Bourne, who joined the team as a free agent in 2021, is set to become a free agent next month as the new NFL year begins. Despite being on track for a standout season last fall, Bourne’s progress was halted in Week 8 due to a torn right ACL.
The extent to which Bourne’s injury recovery influences the Patriots’ interest in keeping him is uncertain. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, there haven’t been significant discussions about a contract extension between the two parties thus far.
Bourne has been vocal about his desire to continue playing in Foxboro, Massachusetts, despite the Patriots heading into the 2024 season with a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and potentially a rookie quarterback. He remains optimistic about the future in New England, even though the team hasn’t won a playoff game since Super Bowl LIII.
Recent reports suggest that Bourne anticipates receiving considerable interest from teams across the league in free agency. Hence, if the Patriots don’t retain him, Bourne shouldn’t have difficulty finding a new team in the NFL.