The Patriots’ top seasoned wide receivers if they choose not to sign Calvin Robinson

A few solid alternatives are still available, but the Patriots still need a seasoned wide receiver (or two).

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Calvin Ridley’s 2023 team, and the New England Patriots are said to have the best chance of signing him as he is the top wide receiver available on the NFL free agent market.

The Patriots are in desperate need of a wide receiver upgrade. On their current depth chart, they only have Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

On Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, New England might select a wide receiver, but even in that case, the team would still need a trustworthy veteran who can spread the field.

Which other veteran wide receivers may the Patriots seek in free agency and the trade market if Ridley decides not to play in Foxboro? The top choices are listed here.

Brown would give the Patriots’ passing attack a significant boost in speed. In 14 games with the Cardinals the previous season, the agile wideout recorded 51 grabs for 574 yards and four touchdowns. In 2021, he had his best season as a member of the Ravens, setting career highs with 1,008 yards and 91 receptions. Although Brown was playing for one of the weakest teams in the league and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murry was limited to just eight games due to injury, his stats from the previous season don’t exactly pop off the page.

Boyd has been a reliable and highly productive slot receiver for the Bengals. Despite spending the most of the last six seasons as Cincinnati’s No. 3 option in the passing attack, he has averaged 72.8 receptions and 862 yards.

Over his three professional seasons, Osborn has averaged 52.6 receptions and 615 yards, adding 15 touchdown catches to his total. Having participated in 50 of Minnesota’s 51 regular season games, he has also shown to be fairly durable. Though he wouldn’t be a contender’s No. 1 or No. 2 wideout, he would be a reliable No. 3 and a great target in the passing game.

Higgins, who was franchise-tagged last month, asked for a trade on Monday, but the Bengals are not required to deal him because his contract is good through 2024. However, each player has a value, so perhaps the Bengals would work out a deal with Higgins if he chooses not to participate.

At just 25 years old, Higgins is four years younger than Ridley. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds, Higgins is a powerful wide receiver. Despite playing in just 13 games due to injuries last season, he still recorded 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns. In 2021 and 2022, he recorded consecutive seasons with at least 74 receptions, 1,000 yards, and six touchdowns.

Since 2021, Higgins has trailed Ja’Marr Chase as the Bengals’ top wide receiver.

In New England, he would be without a doubt the best wideout. In order to get Higgins, should the Patriots offer the No. 34 overall pick (second round) in next month’s draft? It is something to think about.

The 49ers are a high-end team. Five of their offensive players—including Aiyuk, who will be an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming offseason—have salary cap hits of at least $14 million in 2024. The 49ers must choose whether to be the team to pay the massive raise that the 25-year-old wide receiver will eventually receive.

Trading Aiyuk and selecting his replacement in the first or second round of the draft makes a lot of sense if they are unable to come to an extension with him. Wide receivers are in a deep draft class this year.

In 2023, Aiyuk ranked third in the league with 28 catches of 20 yards or more, demonstrating his legitimacy as a deep threat. Additionally, he set

setting career highs in 16 games with 75 receptions, 1,342 yards, and seven touchdowns. The Patriots would gain a wide receiver ranked in the top ten in his prime by trading for Aiyuk, which would be beneficial for any quarterback they select in the April selection.

The Chargers may have to make some difficult decisions regarding some of their older, more costly veterans since they have over the pay ceiling.

According to a Boston Herald story published on Tuesday, Doug Kyed, the Patriots “have checked in with the Chargers on obvious trade/cut candidates during this week’s open negotiating period.” Allen is one of those contenders, according to Kyed.