Patriots linked to Texans wide receiver ahead of free agency

The New England Patriots are reportedly in on wide receivers in free agency this off-season, and there's at least one name being linked to them.

As reported by MassLive's Mark Daniels, Chris Mason, and Karen Guregian from the NFL Scouting Combine, Texans wide receiver Noah Brown is "an intriguing name" to the Patriots and other teams among impending free-agent wide receivers. Brown played 10 games for the Texans in 2023, catching 33 passes for 567 yards and two touchdowns, which would be a 56-964-3 line over a full season.

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Brown averaged a ridiculous 17.2 yards per reception, which ranked fourth in the NFL. He made the most of his status as, at best, the No. 5 option for Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and the Texans' deep arsenal of weapons.

Wide receiver is the Patriots' No. 1 priority entering free agency, according to Jeff Howe at The Athletic. They're also expected to try and trade DeVante Parker.

Brown wouldn't qualify as a big splash in the free-agent wide receiver pool. But with an increased target share, he could be a productive complementary big-play guy for a rebuilding Patriots offense. According to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, the Patriots were targeting Mike Evans before he agreed to a deal to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so they should be expected to aim even higher than Brown once certain players hit the open market.

Read below for our complete list of the top-10 remaining free agent wideouts.

Free-agent wide receivers are about to have a great year.

Starting off as one of the strongest receiver markets we've seen in years, the pool has shallowed a bit at the position, with arguably the top-2 names - Mike Evans and Tee Higgins - getting a new two-year deal and a franchise tag, respectively. But there are still some talented guys expected to cash in with receiver-needy teams.

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So, read below for our top-10 remaining free-agent wideouts. It's still a list worth knowing...

Pittman is more of an inside receiver than outside, but he's better than that. His size and athleticism makes him more dangerous than your typical slot guy. Pittman racked up a career-best 109 catches and 1,152 yards in 2023, as he continued to be one of the league's better separators with his route-running and footwork.

A reliable option over the middle of the field for any quarterback, Pittman would be an elite safety net with high-end production for whoever signs him.

Ridley quietly had an excellent return to the NFL after being suspended for all of 2022 for gambling violations. He played in all 17 games and amassed 76 catches, 1,016 yards, and eight touchdowns. He was productive and durable in an otherwise hit-or-miss season for Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense. Ridley has positioned himself to cash in and become the clear No. 1 wide receiver for a new club.

Davis made just 45 catches last season, but really made a lot of them. Nobody comes up with a monster touchdown out of nowhere like Davis and Josh Allen. Davis averaged 16.6 yards per catch, which amazingly is not a career-high number.

One of the league's best pure big-play receivers, Davis might work best as a complementary piece to a go-to No. 1 guy. But you know what you're getting with him, which is a guy that can change the complexion of a game in an instant.

Brown is a guy who has yet to really live up to his status as the first receiver drafted in a loaded 2019 class. But the talent's there. Brown just hasn't been in a great situation with either of his teams. He played with three different quarterbacks and still led all Cardinals wideouts with 51 catches and 574 yards, and led the team with five touchdowns.

The kid is explosive, and simply needs to land in a better situation. He'll have a great chance to set himself up for success by picking his next stop.

Amid the presence of Mark Andrews and the emergence of rookie Zay Flowers, Beckham was at best the third option for NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, who also siphons passing attempts off from himself with his running. So, Beckham was targeted only 64 times and made 35 catches on the season. But he caught them at an impressive 16.1-yard clip, an indication that OBJ is still capable of making explosive plays at age 31 after dealing with serious injuries.

Beckham may be something less than what he was in his Giants days, but he still seems to have plenty in the tank. He'll be a fine addition for his next team, and may be able to provide great ROI.

Considering the situation he was in, with the Carolina Panthers and a struggling offense behind No. 1 pick Bryce Young, Chark had an impressive 2023. He averaged 15.0 yards per catch and caught five touchdowns, while operating as at best the No. 2 receiving option behind Adam Thielen.

Chark has proven himself as a capable outside receiver, if not a true No. 1. Anyone who wants to add a clear top-2 option at the position would do well with him.

Samuel is a slot receiver, but a pretty well-established one. He's made 60-plus catches in two straight years for the Commanders, and he accomplished that without great quarterbacks or much of an offense going on around him. Samuel won't make the kind of impact on a new team that the outside receivers on this list would. But if someone already has those guys and drops Samuel into the middle, that would make for a savvy signing.

Boyd has long proven that he can be a productive inside receiver. His numbers have fluctuated a bit since the Bengals went to the Joe Burrow era, but Boyd has put together seasons with 60-plus catches and 800-plus yards both with and without him. Boyd has been at best the No. 3 option since the Bengals drafted Ja'Marr Chase, which would make him an intriguing addition to a team that could set him up to be a more prolific target.

Tough and dependable, Reynolds is unafraid to play over the middle of the field and comes up with big catches at opportune times. He caught five touchdowns for the Lions in 2023, and added one score in the playoffs. Reynolds is ultimately a complementary third or fourth receiver and is touchdown-dependent for fantasy teams. But for a team in need of a depth addition, Reynolds will make sense.

Bourne would rank higher on this list, if not for a torn ACL that cut his 2023 season short. He was on his way to another solid season, which is extra-impressive because he did it for an awful Patriots team that got bad quarterback play. Bourne made 37 catches for four touchdowns in just eight games for the league's lowest-ranked offense. He'll make a fine addition for a team in need of a "Z" receiver.

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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt's content.

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