BREAKING: Patriots Re-Sign Kendrick Bourne

The New England Patriots have retained one of their top internal free agents by re-signing receiver Kendrick Bourne to a three-year contract.

FOXBORO — The Bourne Identity will remain in New England for the foreseeable future. 

Receiver Kendrick Bourne, who was set to enter unrestricted free agency this week, has signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the New England Patriots, per an ESPN report. 

After a disappointing showing in 2022, Bourne once again became a central figure within the Patriots offense last season — often serving as a lone bright spot amid the unit’s collective struggles. Unfortunately, he season was cut short by suffering a torn ACL on the first play of the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 8 loss to the Miami Dolphins — a game in which he caught three passes on four targets for 36 yards with a touchdown. Bourne has since had surgery to repair the injury and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

Cred: USA Today Sports Images

Prior to his injury, Bourne was the Patriots’ top receiver, earning 37 catches for 406 yards with four touchdowns in eight games. In spite of his productivity, Bourne had been entrenched in trade rumors, given both his value and the fact that he was playing in the final year of the three-year contract which he signed with New England in 2021. The Patriots were ultimately forced to place the 28-year-old on season-ending injured reserve.

Since joining the Pats, Bourne’s versatility has allowed him to wear multiple hats within the team’s offense. Throughout his three seasons in New England, the Eastern Washington product has compiled 1,640 yards on 127 catches — 10 of which have gone for touchdowns. 

While his technical prowess allows him to win from either alignment, he has looked most comfortable in the Z-receiver role, while occasionally assisting in the slot. However, Bourne has also been called upon to line up at the ‘X’ at times, with a respectable level of success. Lastly, Bourne has been known to carry the ball out of the backfield on occasion; both on the jet sweep and on designed runs. As such, he became a reliable target for Patriots quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, when healthy.

Trade Analysis. Patriots End Disastrous Mac Jones Era

Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald has since reported that Bourne’s deal has a base of $19.5 million, with a maximum value of $33 million. It also includes a $4.2 million signing bonus. 

---