The New England Patriots haven’t shied away from reclamation projects around the NFL. Players who were underwhelming elsewhere have found a home with the Patriots for years. While Eric Decker doesn’t necessarily fit squarely in that profile (he’s probably played too well to get hit with the “bust” label at any of his stops), the move is a typical low risk/high reward one for Bill Belichick and the Pats.
Decker is 31 and will be playing for his fourth team in eight seasons. For his career, he has 439 catches on 713 targets for 5,816 yards and 53 touchdowns. And he’s a good-sized target for Tom Brady at 6’3″, 214 lbs.
Patriots expected to sign former Titans’, Jets’ and Broncos’ WR Eric Decker to a one-year deal, per sources.
And it’s neither here nor there, but is there now a better looking QB-WR combo in the NFL than Tom Brady and Decker?
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2018
There are legitimate questions if Decker has lost some athleticism, but if he and Brady get on the same page, it’s a threat team’s weren’t anticipating given Decker recent arrival. In the short term, it gives the Pats another body on the outside on offense while Julian Edelman sits out his suspension.
New England’s depth chart at receiver is starting to resemble an island of misfit toys. Edelman was unheralded out of college and even into his first couple pro seasons. But he emerged as one of New England’s go-to weapons on offense outside of tight end Rob Gronkowski. The roster also includes Cordarrelle Patterson, who was a first-round pick by the Vikings but flamed out there and in Oakland. Kenny Britt has a similar story. Phillip Dorsett came in the Jacoby Brissett trade. Matthew Slater is listed as a wide receiver but is considered the NFL’s premier special teamer. Chris Hogan played more college lacrosse than football. Rookie receiver Braxton Berrios was a sixth-round pick and is currently wearing jersey number 55. Second-year man Malcolm Mitchell is working his way back from a knee injury. Devin Lucien has been waived, claimed, put on the practice squad, and/or put on IR more than a dozen times since May of 2016. That only leaves Paul Turner and Riley McCarron, who spent last season on practice squads.
Obviously, there’s no Randy Moss in that group. But the New England Patriots have shown to be one of the best at putting players in situations to succeed. Now with Eric Decker on board and Edelman due back in Week 5, New England might find strength in numbers.
