Who Should I Start? Kendrick Bourne or Treylon Burks

Saturday, February 22, 12:03 PM

The Athletic's Chad Graff suggests that it could be time for the New England Patriots to move on from wide receiver Kendrick Bourne this offseason, even if he's their top player at their biggest position of need. Bourne missed the start of the 2024 season while recovering from a torn right ACL and caught only 28 passes on 38 targets for 305 yards and one touchdown in 12 games (nine starts) once he returned. With a new coaching regime in town, the Patriots could move on from Bourne, who will be heading into his age-30 season in 2025. New England would save $4.9 million in salary cap space if they cut him before June 1 or $6.3 million if they cut him with a post-June 1 designation. Bourne is under contract with the Patriots through the 2026 season, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see this rebuilding organization go in another direction as they completely rebuild their receiving corps.

Thursday, May 1, 7:14 PM

As expected, the Tennessee Titans officially did not pick up the fifth-year option for the 2026 season on wide receiver Treylon Burks (knee). The fifth-year option would have guaranteed Burks $15.493 million for the 2026 season, which is way too much to give a player that has missed significant time due to injury in his first three NFL seasons after he was taken 18th overall in 2022 out of Arkansas. The 25-year-old wideout tore the ACL in his knee in Week 6 of last year, too, and isn't expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 season this fall. Not much should be expected of him when he's able to return this year, especially after Tennessee added veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson in free agency this offseason. It 27 total games played (17 starts) over three seasons, Burks has just 53 catches on 92 targets for 699 yards and only one touchdown. He'll be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.