The Patriots’ reserve wide receivers should have plenty of reps during organized team activities and minicamp while battling for likely just one open spot on New England’s roster.
Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, who along with Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell and Matthew Slater are locks to make the Patriots’ regular season roster, likely won’t participate in the offseason workouts. Edelman reportedly underwent foot surgery this offseason, while Amendola had his ankle and knee repaired.
That will give Hogan, Mitchell, Slater, Keshawn Martin, Nate Washington, Devin Lucien, Aaron Dobson, Chris Harper and DeAndre Carter valuable time to work with quarterbacks Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett during OTAs and minicamp.
Martin, who was acquired in a trade with the Houston Texans last September and signed a two-year contract extension with $600,000 guaranteed in January, has the best shot at the final roster spot. Martin caught 24 passes for 269 yards with two touchdowns in nine games with the Patriots last season and is an ideal No. 4 or 5 wideout because of his ability to play all three receiver roles in the Patriots’ offense.
Washington signed a one-year, $1.065 million contract as a free agent this offseason with $60,000 in guaranteed money. The 32-year-old caught 47 passes for 658 yards with four touchdowns in 2015 while playing under Texans head coach and former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. Washington already knows the basics of the Patriots’ offense and brings 11 years of NFL experience. His best chance at a roster spot will come if Edelman, Amendola, Hogan, Mitchell or Martin aren’t healthy to begin the regular season.
Lucien, a 2016 seventh-round draft pick, has the most upside of the Patriots’ receivers battling for a roster spot. He’s 6-foot-2, 195 pounds with a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and 6.93-second three-cone drill. He caught 66 passes for 1,074 yards in his only season at Arizona State after transferring from UCLA. With the Sun Devils, Lucien improved as the season progressed and showed off some of the best hands in college football. He possesses the size and speed to potentially play “X” receiver in the NFL, but the Patriots likely will attempt to slip him onto the 2016 practice squad.
Dobson, Harper and Carter have less of a chance to make the 53-man roster. Dobson was lucky to make the Patriots’ roster last season after Brian Tyms and Brandon Gibson suffered season-ending injuries in training camp and Brandon LaFell began the season on the PUP list. Dobson had 37 receptions for 519 yards with four touchdowns as a rookie but he’s been slowed by injuries and inconsistency of late.
Harper also was fortunate to begin and end the 2015 season on the active roster because of injuries. He caught just one pass for 6 yards as he bounced up and down from the 53-man roster to the practice squad in 2015. Carter, who was a late-season addition to the practice squad, signed a futures contract in January.
Washington or Lucien will have to outshine Martin and his $600,000 in guaranteed salary to crack the 53-man roster. Washington has proved more, and Lucien has the upside, but Martin’s versatility as a receiver and returner could win out.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images
