The concept of a ‘No. 1 wide receiver’ – while abstract – has been a regular talking point around the New England Patriots for some time now. As the collective talent level at the position continues to grow around the league, the Patriots have struggled to land a true top-end pass-catching threat since Rob Gronkowski’s retirement in 2018.
Some of that, objectively, has been due to a lack of trying. Since 2019 the Patriots have used just two premium draft picks on pass-catchers, taking N’Keal Harry 32nd overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, and three years later using the 50th overall pick on Tyquan Thornton. In free agency the biggest contract they’ve given a wide receiver was Nelson Agholor’s two-year, $26 million deal that made him the 21st-highest paid receiver in football. They also traded a third round pick to the Miami Dolphins for DeVante Parker last spring.
Aug 19, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry (15) takes the field against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The lack of investments and lack of success at the position overall have led some to wonder if the Patriots evaluate the wide receiver position different than the rest of the league. While that had been talked about in the abstract, Wednesday delivered a more clear answer directly from the team.
Following Wednesday’s training camp practice, director of player personnel Matt Groh spoke with the media. Groh is second only to Bill Belichick in the Patriots’ organization when it comes to personnel decisions, and has been in his current role for the last two seasons after serving in their college scouting department for 10 years. During his press availability, Groh was asked what his definition of a ‘No. 1 wide receiver’ is.
“We typically – in scouting, we typically define a number one wide receiver who’s a three down guy,” Groh explained. “If that player’s got inside-outside, outside-inside versatility, that’s great. But it’s a player who can go out there and – it’s typically an ‘X’ – who we think of as a guy who can go out there and get open on his own. And then the hallmarks that that we have here – get open, catch the ball and gain yards after the catch. The more that they can do size wise, to be involved in the run game, that’s all important as well.”
Jul 26, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh speaks at training camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
That answer begs an important follow up question – do the Patriots believe they have such a player currently on their roster?
“I think we’ve got a great group,” Groh replied. “I know [wide receiver coaches] Troy – coach Brown – and Ross – coach Douglas are working hard with those guys, and I’m really excited about what they’re going to be able to do with those guys and working with the quarterbacks.”
“It’s all about coming together and it’s not having this position or this position by definition, it’s – there’s a sign around here that’s been said, hanging for a long time, ‘we’re not collecting talent, we’re trying to build a team,'” Groh continued. “However you want to define it, we got to put the best team together that we think that’s (sic) going to marry with what Coach [Bill] O’Brien, Coach [Bill] Belichick want for our offensive philosophy.”
Groh’s follow-up answer speaks strongly to what the Patriots’ approach to the position has been in recent years. Rather than focusing on the top of the depth chart, they’ve put more resources into building depth at the position. Their top two receivers at any given time haven’t been as strong as most top twos around the league, but their three-four-five are generally stronger than the league average. A way it’s often been described is ‘a wide receiver room of No. 2 receivers.’
That’s been the Patriots’ approach for the most part in recent years, but they have targeted a handful of players who could rise to that No. 1 role. Thornton is a candidate for that – given where he was drafted, the team should have at least low-end No. 1 WR expectations for him.
Another player who fits Groh’s description as a No. 1 is DeAndre Hopkins, who the team was trying to sign earlier this month (he ended up signing with the Titans). Groh discussed that process as well.
July 26, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans newly acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) runs through drills during the first day of training camp at the practice facility St. Thomas Sports Park. Credit: Denny Simmons – USA Today Sports Network via The Tennessean
“We explore every option that’s out there,” Groh said of the team’s pursuit of Hopkins. “DeAndre became available pretty early on in the spring. Obviously there were reports even before he was released. Spent time working on it. We exhaust every every option. Had him in here, talked to him.”
“But look, there’s – everybody’s got a chance to get in it right now,” Groh continued. “You look at the salary cap space, basically anybody can make anything work right now. You just move some things around and get creative.”
“I know we were one of the teams mentioned that was in it most prevalent,” Groh added. “But we exhausted our options and did what we thought made the most sense.”
Reading between the lines, it doesn’t appear that the Patriots view what makes a ‘No. 1 wide receiver’ differently than the rest of the league. Where they may differ is how they value that player, going for depth rather than top-end talent. Still, they’re clearly not outrightly adverse to adding such a player, and expect these comments from Groh to be referenced next time a top-end pass catcher becomes available.
