Sorry to all of those who thought the roster drama was over for the New England Patriots. Less than 24 hours after final rosters were due, the Pats wide receiver room gets shaved down from eight to six after releasing second year wideout Javon Baker as well as the longest tenured Patriot, Kendrick Bourne.
The wide receiver room was the most hotly debated roster battle on the team heading into yesterday’s deadline. With Ja’Lynn Polk’s season ending injury taking him out of consideration, analysts debated who would make the team between Baker and Bourne, or if either one would make it all.
Then the Patriots pulled a move nobody was expecting, keeping a whopping eight wide receivers.
The team gave the media a day to be upset about the wasteful roster management, then cut the two bubble players cold turkey.
Adam Schefter was the first to report Bourne’s release at 12:16 PM on Wednesday.
Patriots are releasing WR Kendrick Bourne after he requested his release, per source,” the tweet read.
Then, just over an hour later, Mike Reiss broke the Baker news at 1:58 PM.
The Patriots are planning to release WR Javon Baker, per a source,” Reiss wrote. “If Baker clears waivers, he could return on the practice squad.”
No Role For Kendrick Bourne Any More
As a Patriots fan, Kendrick Bourne has been one of the only consistent things we have been able to route for this decade. He came to New England in 2021, posting a 55 catch, 800 yard season. In the three years following, his role dwindled as he only appeared in 30 of a possible 51 games.
The stats declined with it, but that is to be expected in an offense he was having trouble establishing himself in. His role was security blanket. He is not an explosive athlete at this stage in his career, but at 30-years-old with eight seasons of NFL experience, he is a nuanced route runner.
His hands are reliable, and he knows how to get open in the red zone. The problem is, the Patriots‘ newest veteran, Mack Hollins, fills this need.
At six-foot-four, Hollins shined bright enough in preseason to establish himself as someone quarterback Drake Maye can trust. It was clear Bourne was no longer needed in this offense, keeping him on roster felt like they were paying for his veteran leadership and loyalty.
Now he, and his roughly $14 million of allocated cap over the next two years, are off the Patriots’ books.
Javon Baker Was A Swing And Miss
Anyway you slice it, it was astonishing to see Javon Baker on the 53-man yesterday.
Drafted in the fourth round in 2024, Baker made one catch for 12 yards in 11 games played as a rookie.
In the preseason this year, fighting for his life to make the roster, the second year receiver made one catch, on eleven targets.
At this stage in his career, the six-foot-one wideout does not have NFL stuff. Despite an electric personality that made New England fans route for him, Baker did not seem like the best use of a roster spot in what was a previously very full room.
Patriots Cut 2 of 8 Receivers In Surprise Move On Dramatic First Day