At various points last season, rookies Aaron Dobson, Kenbrell Thompkins and even Josh Boyce looked like potentially significant receivers in New England, both short- and long-term. And maybe one or two of those guys will turn out to be solid pros; especially Dobson, a second-round pick.
But New England isn't taking any chances. They are apparently hanging on to last year's free agent disappointment, Danny Amendola. They've resigned Julian Edelman. And now they've also added Brandon LaFell. Most likely, they'll add a pass catcher or two, probably a tight end, in the draft. They're even supposedly interested in Kenny Britt..
LaFell has been a disappointment in Carolina, but the Patriots obviously liked something about him. He was in a much lesser passing offense there, and Steve Smith was the No. 1. The chance is there for him to carve out, say, Brandon Lloyd type numbers.
But he will be competing with Dobson and Thompkins for the same job, and Amendola also figures in. It becomes harder to see any one of the having a major impact while fighting for snaps.
Could LaFell be an insurance policy for Dobson, who recently underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot? Maybe; it could hint at a long rehab, or at least New England's internal doubts about their younger receivers.
In other news, the Carolina Panthers have now lost Smith, LaFell, and Ted Ginn, their top three wideouts from a year ago, while adding no one. Interesting.
--Andy Richardson