An Open Competition Out Wide for the Patriots

Jakobi Meyers finds himself in a tougher spot than last year's preseason propelled him into. (Photo: Rick Osentoski/Associated Press)

Entering the offseason, the only thing about the wide receivers that seemed clear was who the three starters would be. Now that Mohamed Sanu has been released, not even that has any clarity.

Julian Edelman and 2019 first-rounder N'Keal Harry were going to be relied upon heavily in the passing game. With Sanu out of the picture, they'll presumably have to carry an even heavier load.

One benefit of Sanu being gone, however, is that it will free up play time in the slot. Edelman isn't most optimal as a boundary receiver, and even Harry is an intriguing option inside, where separation from coverage – his weakness – is less vital, particularly for a big receiver.

With no more Sanu, there's also room for a younger receiver to receive a boatload of reps. It's not particularly clear who that player will be, though.

Status Quo

In terms of incumbents, the leading candidate seems to be Jakobi Meyers. He had 26 receptions for 359 yards as a rookie last year, and is in many respects a younger version of Sanu. If electricity is what you're looking for, he probably isn't your guy. But if you favor dependability, he's arguably the best of the bunch, although he's struggled through injuries during camp.

If you believe in second-year jumps for raw receivers, consider Gunner Olszewski. The former defensive back at Bemidji State was primarily a punt returner as a rookie, but that's a similar path Edelman took before usurping Wes Welker as Tom Brady's right-hand man. He didn't "wow" anyone in camp, but he made some strides, and his special teams value alone should keep him on the roster and give him an opportunity to get some work on offense.

Incoming Talent

New England signed a veteran speedster in free agency, as well. Damiere Byrd was the Arizona Cardinals' No. 3 wideout last year, recording similar statistics to Meyers. He was also teammates with Cam Newton in Carolina for three seasons, although his reps were few and far between. His 4.28-second 40-yard dash time at South Carolina's Pro Day sounds great on paper, but he hasn't put everything together in the NFL. He might get a chance this year.

Speaking of speed, the Patriots snagged Miami product Jeff Thomas as an undrafted free agent. He was sidelined for much of training camp, but he clocked in at 4.45 at the Combine.

The Patriots have two more undrafted wideouts – Isaiah Zuber (Mississippi State) and Andre Baccellia (Washington) – under contract, as well as 2019 practice squad member Devin Ross, who has raised some eyebrows recently.

The Likely Outcome

It probably isn't entirely effective to state who's making the roster at wide receiver here; numbers at other positions will come into play. However, ranking them seems doable. Here they are, in terms of roster odds:

1. Edelman

2. Harry

3. Byrd

4. Olszewski

5. Meyers

6. Thomas

7. Ross

8. Zuber/Baccellia

Of course, this doesn't include special teams ace Matthew Slater, who is also a lock to make the roster.