Patriots to re-sign Kendrick Bourne (report)
Kendrick Bourne will be returning to the New England Patriots. Bourne has agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $33M per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The wide receiver is coming off a torn ACL.
Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports that the deal is for $19.5M with incentives and a $4.5M signing bonus.
The 28-year old suffered the knee injury back in a week 8 loss against the Miami Dolphins. He will be enetering his fourth season with the Patriots after leaving the San Francisco 49ers and joining New England in the 2021 offseason.
Through the first eight weeks of the season, Bourne was in the midst of a bounce back season, after a down year in 2022. Bourne racked up 402 yards on 37 catches and four touchdowns. Despite missing half the season, he lead Patriots wide receivers in touchdowns and was second to Demario Douglas in yards and receptions.
“I do. I do," Bourne told Patrick Claybon of the NFL Network recently when asked if he wanted to return to New England. "It's something that has helped me in my career, especially in my life as a man. Obviously you know it's a new coach and new situation, but the building itself, the organization itself, what they stand for has helped me grow.”
In regards to where he stands with his rehab from his torn ACL, Bourne is hopeful where his recovery is at.
"My plan is to play Game 1 and I believe I'm going to be ready," he said to Clayborn. "Where I'm at right now, on track, ahead of schedule and I feel good. So, building that confidence, building my strength in my legs so that I can be ready to go Game 1."
The current Patriots depth chart at wide receiver is stronger with Bourne, but is lacking at least one top receiver. The others at the position include Douglas, Devante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kayshon Boutte, and Tyquan Thornton.
