Kendrick Bourne Ranks Among Top NFL Wideouts In These Metrics

Kendrick Bourne hasn’t just been the Patriots’ most productive receiver this season. He’s also been one of the best pass-catchers in the NFL through seven weeks, at least according to some advanced metrics.

ESPN Analytics on Tuesday published its latest round of receiver rankings, which it has been tracking since 2017. The rankings, which use player tracking data from NFL Next Gen Stats, grade wideouts and tight ends in three different categories — simply called Open, Catch and YAC — and add an “Overall” ranking that combines the three.

Of the 109 players with enough targets to qualify, Bourne’s overall score entering Week 8 ranks 11th. The 10 above him: A.J. Brown, Brandon Aiyuk, D.J. Moore, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, CeeDee Lamb, Adam Thielen, Ja’Marr Chase, Chris Godwin and Keenan Allen.

ESPN’s model especially likes what Bourne has been able to do with the ball in his hands. His YAC score (yards after catch) is fourth-best behind Moore, Deebo Samuel and Collins. Bourne is 36th in Catch score and 40th in Open score.

Bourne’s strong season also shows in more conventional metrics. With a 34-370-3 receiving line across seven appearances, he has 11 more receptions and 160 more receiving yards than any Patriots teammate. He also was on the receiving end of three of Mac Jones’ seven touchdown passes.

Bourne ranked third overall in the 2021 season before plummeting to 66th in 2022.

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That solid production, coupled with his expiring and team-friendly contract, makes Bourne a possible trade candidate ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL deadline. He’d have value for a contending team if the Patriots, who sit at 2-5 after upsetting the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, choose to sell off parts and begin planning for the future.

“(The possibility of a trade will) definitely be on my mind,” Bourne said last week. “But just being ready for whatever, man. I want to be here. I’d love to be here. But if there’s other plans, then it is what it is.”

Doing so would be highly detrimental to their current receiving corps, however, as most of New England’s other pass-catchers have not impressed.

Tight end Mike Gesicki ranks 80th in ESPN’s overall rankings, and DeVante Parker, Hunter Henry and JuJu Smith-Schuster all rank in the bottom 10 — 101st, 107th and 109th, respectively. Parker, Henry and Smith-Schuster are bottom-five in Open score, with Smith-Schuster sitting dead last in that, as well.

Standout rookie Demario Douglas curiously was not included despite meeting the target minimum. He and Bourne have been the Patriots’ top playmakers this season, easily outpacing Smith-Schuster and Parker.