Patriots offer free agent wide receiver contract (report)
The Patriots are working to bring back wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, per the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan.
Bourne received a contract offer before the NFL Scouting Combine. New England is hoping to lure him back before free agency begins on March 11. The 28-year-old is expected to have a robust market once he hits the open market.
The New York Jets are one team that is reportedly showing strong interest in Bourne, per Callahan. The AFC East rival has been trying to acquire Bourne since the end of training camp during both 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Bourne is expected to land an AAV around $7 million, according to sources close to Callahan. The wide receiver is working back from a torn ACL sustained during the October loss to the Dolphins.
"I want to come back [to New England]. That is a goal of mine. I love being a Patriot -- it's a great environment for a person like me," Bourne told ESPN. "Being a Patriot helped me grow into the player I am today. I'm thankful for the organization, but you never know. I've been in free agency before and I didn't know what would happen. And I don't know now."
Bourne finished with 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns in eight games prior to the injury. He was on pace to have his most productive NFL season. The Eastern Washington University alum is coming off of a three-year, $15 million deal with the Patriots.
