New England Patriots fans are painfully aware of how bad their team’s receiving core was in 2024.
Tight end Hunter Henry led the Patriots last season with 674 receiving yards. DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte were the only wideouts to clear the 500-yard mark, while the team’s second-round pick, Ja’Lynn Polk, put up just 87 yards on 33 targets.
Needless to say, the Patriots are in the market for receivers to help out young star quarterback Drake Maye, whether they can be found in free agency or the draft. And the Los Angeles Rams may have just delivered them a get-out-of-jail-free card.
The Rams released former Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Cooper Kupp from his contract on Wednesday, making him eligible to sign a new contract with any team. Is there any franchise that needs him more than New England?
On Wednesday, Bleacher Report’s Timothy Rapp named the Patriots as a top prospective destination for Kupp following the news that the Rams were officially releasing the former Pro Bowler.
The Pats have added wideout Mack Hollins and tight end Austin Hooper this offseason, but neither will move the needle much. Kupp would be a targets machine for the Patriots, providing Maye with the most reliable option he’s had in his NFL career to this point,” Rapp wrote.
“The Patriots have a long history of effective slot receivers, dating back to Wes Welker, Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. Kupp would continue the tradition.”
Kupp, 31, hasn’t been the same player since 2021, when he won the receiving triple crown with 145 catches, 1,947 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns. But he’s still averaged 1,164 yards on a 17-game pace in the parts of three seasons he’s played since.
