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The New England Patriots made a major move on Wednesday that saw veteran wide receiver Jordan Matthews placed on the injured reserve due to a hamstring injury may end his 2018 campaign.
It hasn't taken long for the Patriots to find an immediate replacement as Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that free agent wideout Eric Decker is expected to ink a one-year deal.
Patriots expected to sign former Titans’, Jets’ and Broncos’ WR Eric Decker to a one-year deal, per sources.
And it’s neither here nor there, but is there now a better looking QB-WR combo in the NFL than Tom Brady and Decker?
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2018
Decker is coming off a lone season with the Tennessee Titans where he was productive recording 54 catches on 83 targets 563 receiving yards and a touchdown while playing in all 16 games. It may have been a notable step down in production, but it did showcase that he is past the shoulder injury that limited him to just three games in the 2016 campaign with the New York Jets.
The 31-year-old could quickly step into a prominent role in the passing game as the Patriots have undergone many changes to their wide receiver core that saw the departure of Danny Amendola in free agency to the Miami Dolphins, and Brandin Cooks via a trade to the Los Angeles Rams. There will be an adjustment period for Decker to pick up the offensive scheme over the next few weeks in training camp and the preseason.
New England may lean on him in the first month of the regular season with Julian Edelman out of the lineup due to a four-game suspension. Decker has proven in his career that he can be a reliable receiving option posting at least 80 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards three times in his first eight years in the league. He has shown that he can be a reliable receiving option in critical spots in the game while being a legitimate threat in the red zone. If anything, this move further solidifies the wide receiver position ahead of the 2018 campaign.
