Bourne Ultimatum: Veteran Receiver 'No Guarantee' To Make Patriots' Roster?

Kendrick Bourne posted disappointing numbers after a career-best season in his New England Patriots debut and his case for a third season got a bit more dire thanks to some newcomers.

Former San Francisco 49er Kendrick Bourne struck it rich in Foxboro upon his arrival on a three-year, $15 million deal in 2021, posting a career-best 55 receptions and 800 yards in his debut season with the New England Patriots. 

One New England insider, however, believes there's a chance that such a debut might've been fool's gold for both sides.

In an early look at the Patriots' roster construction, Chad Graff of The Athletic says that Bourne's spot on the 2023 ledger is anything but assured thanks to several newcomers like sixth-round pick Demario Douglas.

"I don’t think Bourne is guaranteed to make the team," Graff says. "He’ll need to re-prove he belongs to fend off Douglas."

Bourne posted only 434 yards and a single score last season as the Patriots' offense sputtered and failed to create another postseason streak. While Bourne is still on the roster, the receivers' room underwent a bit of a makeover. Top target Jakobi Meyers is the latest New England alum to abscond to Las Vegas, paving the way for defending champion JuJu Smith-Schuster to come over from Kansas City. 

Smith-Schuster is a lock to make the Week 1 group in Graff's early forecast DeVante Parker and 2022 second-round choice Tyquan Thornton. Bourne, however, might need to have a convincing summer to stave off freshman arrivals Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, who went 23 picks before the former in the sixth round. 

New England has already made a veteran cut in the wake of Boutte and Douglas' arrivals, waiving third-year man Lynn Bowden Jr. last week. While Bourne certainly has a more accomplished resume, he'll have to impress new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien once veterans arrive in Foxboro for 2023's preparation.   

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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