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Regardless of coming off an ACL tear, Kendrick Bourne has a deal in place earlier than free company. The Patriots nonetheless have the veteran huge receiver of their plans, agreeing to phrases on a three-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bourne, 28, has impressed in spurts with the Patriots; though his first contract produced an inconsistent tenure, the group nonetheless values the previous 49er. The deal may pay as much as $33M. It’s seemingly incentives comprise a large a part of that quantity. Certainly, the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan reports Bourne is staying with the Pats for $19.5M. Though it isn’t recognized how a lot of the deal is assured, Callahan provides Bourne will obtain a $4.2M signing bonus.
It’s a bit attention-grabbing Bourne’s October ACL tear didn’t end in a one-year deal – doubtlessly so he may reset his marketplace for 2025. Bourne signed a three-year, $15M cope with the Patriots in 2021 and he has one other three-year pact in place to construct on what he completed. Bourne might be enjoying for a fourth Pats OC in 4 years, with Alex Van Pelt taking on. Even with this turnover, the group continues to prioritize Bourne.
As of late February, Bourne had not engaged in talks with the Pats. However the sides huddled up lately and hammered out a deal. The Pats had wanted to bring back Bourne and Henry; they completed each targets with no need to compete with different suitors on the open market. Henry fetched an even bigger contract, however that ought to not shock given this 12 months’s tight finish market and Bourne’s harm. Nonetheless, this represents a good comfort prize for Bourne, who was enjoying effectively earlier than his knee setback.
Often known as a stable blocker in San Francisco, Bourne totaled 800 receiving yards in his first Patriots season. The Pats’ offense deteriorated swiftly after Josh McDaniels‘ 2022 exit, and Bourne appeared to fall out of favor with the group later that 12 months. Bourne came up in trade rumors at every of the previous two deadlines, because the Patriots tumbled into the uncommon place of potential vendor. The group didn’t chew, maintaining the likes of Kyle Dugger, Michael Onwenu and Josh Uche. The latter two are on observe totally free company, however Dugger acquired the transition tag this week.
The Patriots nonetheless seem like trying to find an even bigger identify to anchor their receiving corps. They’re expected to pursue
Calvin Ridley, who joins Marquise Brown and Gabriel Davis because the top WRs available following the tags of Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. and Mike Evans‘ re-signing. The Pats signed JuJu Smith-Schuster for $16M assured final 12 months, making it much less seemingly he’s moved this offseason. DeVante Parker, nonetheless, could also be jettisoned by way of commerce or launch. However Bourne, who averaged a career-high 50.8 yards per sport throughout a four-TD 2023 season, is staying put as a possible auxiliary weapon.
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