With the 2025-26 NFL season on the horizon, teams are quickly learning where their strengths and weaknesses on the roster are. For the New York Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn, things are becoming more defined as the preseason winds down.
One position group that could benefit from an injection of talent is wide receiver. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report seems to agree, as he proposed a wideout trade to help bolster the team’s depth.
In Kay’s simulation, he has the Jets sending a 2026 seventh-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for receiver Kendrick Bourne.
Jets Urged to Trade for Patriots Wideout Kendrick Bourne
Kay thinks it would help New York to add “one more talented receiver who can make life easier for new quarterback Justin Fields.” It’s hard to disagree with that logic.
Combine that with the Jets reportedly being active on the wideout market, and you get this.
“Kendrick Bourne may not be the most exciting pickup for the squad, but he’s a reliable veteran who could be an asset in the Big Apple,” Kay wrote. “With New England dealing with one of the league’s most crowded receiving corps, it shouldn’t cost more than a late-Day 3 pick to acquire the 30-year-old.”
Even after Ja’Lynn Polk was ruled out for the season, the Patriots had ample depth. Things have gotten so dire for Bourne that he may be on the outside looking in. He’s also missed time due to an ankle injury. Players like Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III and others are vying for spots ahead of him.
If that’s the case, one AFC East team’s trash could be another’s treasure. Bourne is a lifelong supporting wideout whose best season came in 2021. Playing in all 17 regular-season games, he set career-highs in receptions (55), yards (800) and touchdowns (5). He followed that up with back-to-back years of 400-plus yards.
An ACL injury cut Bourne’s 2023-24 campaign short. In 12 games upon returning last year, he recorded 28 receptions for 305 yards and a score. It remains to be seen whether he’s capable of finding his prime form, especially at age 30. With that said, even last season’s version of Bourne can help.
Bourne has two years left on his contract. His base salaries for 2025 and 2026 are $5.5 million each, with respective cap numbers of $7.7M and $7.9M per Over The Cap.
How Does New York’s Receiver Room Look Entering Season?
With Week 1 on the horizon, this is a competitive Jets receiver room. Garrett Wilson is starring at the top of the depth chart, as evidenced by his contract extension as well. Behind him, some combination of veteran Allen Lazard, offseason signing Josh Reynolds and rookie Arian Smith is slotting in to be supplemental options.
Lazard is reportedly a possible option for the Minnesota Vikings, however, if he’s healthy. On the other hand, Smith and fellow rookie Quentin Skinner have stood out to Fields in major ways this summer.
“You can kind of tell early that those guys were going to be special,” Fields said. “I think I brought up Arian like a few weeks ago and how his speed really helps stretch the defense vertically and how much of a deep threat he can be. And I think Q’s done a great job of course making plays, of course he’s a big body. He’s a smooth route runner, solid hands, and like I said, he can go up and get it. So, those guys have definitely made big plays for us, and I’m excited to see what they do this week.”
Other potential 2025-26 Jets receivers include Tyler Johnson, Jamaal Pritchett, Xavier Gipson and 2024 NFL Draft pick Malachi Corley. It’s a crowded group, albeit one that could easily absorb the addition of someone like Bourne.
With ample cap space and reps to go around, it wouldn’t be the worst idea.
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