The New England Patriots fared just fine last season with a receiving corps that could generously be described as average. Believe it or not, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the team's existing infrastructure have a way of getting the best out of New England's roster.
Still, that doesn't make the Patriots missing out on multiple top wide receiver targets in free agency any easier for to stomach. Another name to add to that list: Cole Beasley, who told reporters at his introductory press conference with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday that New England was one of his suitors early in free agency.
“There was a lot early,” he said, per 247 Sports' Tyler Sullivan. “It was a battle between [Buffalo], New England and Dallas, obviously.”
Beasley agreed to a four-year, $29 million contract with Buffalo on Tuesday. The 29-year-old spent the first seven years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, emerging as one of the team's top targets in 2016. He 65 catches for 672 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Beasley wasn't the only wide receiver the Patriots failed to convince to come to Foxboro. New England reportedly made a last-ditch effort to try and steal Adam Humphries from the Tennessee Titans, who would eventually sign the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer to a four-year deal worth $36 million overall.
On Thursday, the Patriots signed wide receivers Bruce Ellington and Maurice Harris. Though neither player has a track record of consistent production let alone stardom, it would be remiss to count them as afterthoughts given New England's long history of turning journeyman receivers into impactful performers.
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