Patriots Can’t Trade Kendrick Bourne, Even If He’s Their Only Asset

The Patriots should be among the biggest “sellers” at the trade deadline, if not only for the fact they’re expected to be all the way out of contention by the time it rolls around Nov. 5.

New England has plenty of options, too!

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero floated three names in particular Saturday with pass-rusher Joshua Uche and wide receivers K.J. Osborn and Kendrick Bourne the most likely options to be dealt. Uche should be gone as there’s value in his relatively modest contract. Osborn can go, too, but that’s only if anyone will take him. Bourne, however, should be kept off the table completely.

The Patriots need an adult in the wide receiver room, and he appears to be the only one.

New England dealt with a litany of controversies in the wide receiver room this season, practically everyone around Bourne expressed frustration with their role at one point or another. Ja’Lynn Polk started a mini avalanche last week with a since-deleted post after he failed to catch any of his three targets from Drake Maye in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. K.J. Osborn reposted a screenshot that depicted his own frustrations. Kayshon Boutte admitted he’s started demanding the ball despite averaging a whopping one catch per game across two seasons.

DeMario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton and Javon Baker aren’t off the hook, either, as they’ve each taken exception with their usage at different points throughout the season. Baker hasn’t helped his case, reportedly having a “hiccup” in London that contributed to his absence.

Bourne continues to be a steady — and overwhelmingly positive — presence, however.

The Patriots can’t afford to lose that, as everyone else in the room either has no future at One Patriot Place (Osborn, Thornton) or is in their first or second season in the NFL (Polk, Baker, Douglas, Boutte). Do you want to roll the dice with that group and no veterans? Bourne is under contract for two more seasons at an extremely fair rate and has proven to be an important voice in the locker room.

New England seems to view it similarly.

“While Kendrick Bourne is the receiver who has garnered most of the trade rumors, it would take a large deal to pry him from New England,” NFL Media wrote. “A more likely trade possibility as a veteran option is (K.J.) Osborn, who is on a one-year deal and has thrived elsewhere.”

Bourne is simply too valuable off the field to ship out for anything less than a premium pick, and the expectation is that on-field production will pick back up as he finds comfort following his knee injury.