The Patriots have released Brandon LaFell, and that should surprise nobody. He was pretty terrible last year – probably the weakest member of New England’s offense. He just simply wasn’t anywhere near as good as he had been in 2014.
Around the league last year, 61 wide receivers saw at least 70 targets last year. LaFell was the only one who didn’t have a touchdown catch.
He also caught only 50 percent of the passes thrown his way – 37 of 74. That’s with a Hall of Famer at quarterback.
LaFell caught 62 percent of the passes he saw the previous year. In that season he averaged 61 yards per game after he became a starter, with 7 TDs in those 14 weeks.
LaFell was one of the guys I missed on last year. Heading into last season, I thought he would be about the 20th-best receiver in the 2015 season. I doubt anybody will have him in their top 100 wide receivers this summer.
Now the Patriots will need to have a new starting wide receiver. Julian Edelman will be one of their guys. Danny Amendola can chip in some, but he seems like more of a situational No. 3 receiver. They've got Keshawn Martin, but I don't think it will be him. Prior to his injury, Aaron Dobson seemed to be close to moving past LaFell last year. But there's also free agency and the draft.
The Patriots also chopped Scott Chandler on Tuesday.
| RECEPTION PERCENTAGES | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Tgt | Pct |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 78 | 1,069 | 14 | 103 | 76% |
| Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 59 | 604 | 2 | 78 | 76% |
| Keenan Allen, S.D. | 67 | 725 | 4 | 89 | 75% |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 109 | 1,215 | 9 | 145 | 75% |
| Danny Amendola, N.E. | 65 | 648 | 3 | 87 | 75% |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 136 | 1,834 | 10 | 193 | 70% |
| Golden Tate, Det. | 90 | 813 | 6 | 128 | 70% |
| Jeremy Maclin, K.C. | 87 | 1,088 | 8 | 124 | 70% |
| Cole Beasley, Dall. | 52 | 536 | 5 | 75 | 69% |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 61 | 692 | 7 | 88 | 69% |
| Willie Snead, N.O. | 69 | 984 | 3 | 101 | 68% |
| Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 85 | 997 | 8 | 126 | 67% |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 136 | 1,871 | 8 | 203 | 67% |
| Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 110 | 1,157 | 4 | 166 | 66% |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 86 | 1,297 | 10 | 132 | 65% |
| Brandin Cooks, N.O. | 84 | 1,138 | 9 | 129 | 65% |
| Pierre Garcon, Wash. | 72 | 777 | 6 | 111 | 65% |
| John Brown, Ariz. | 65 | 1,003 | 7 | 101 | 64% |
| Rueben Randle, NYG | 57 | 797 | 8 | 90 | 63% |
| Marvin Jones, Cin. | 65 | 816 | 4 | 103 | 63% |
| Steve Smith, Balt. | 46 | 670 | 3 | 73 | 63% |
| Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 109 | 1,502 | 14 | 173 | 63% |
| Sammy Watkins, Buff. | 60 | 1,047 | 9 | 96 | 63% |
| Anquan Boldin, S.F. | 69 | 789 | 4 | 111 | 62% |
| Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 52 | 720 | 4 | 84 | 62% |
| Roddy White, Atl. | 43 | 506 | 1 | 70 | 61% |
| Randall Cobb, G.B. | 79 | 829 | 6 | 129 | 61% |
| Allen Hurns, Jac. | 64 | 1,031 | 10 | 105 | 61% |
| Donte Moncrief, Ind. | 64 | 733 | 6 | 105 | 61% |
| Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 96 | 1,450 | 13 | 158 | 61% |
| Eric Decker, NYJ | 80 | 1,027 | 12 | 132 | 61% |
| Tavon Austin, St.L. | 52 | 473 | 5 | 87 | 60% |
| Brian Hartline, Clev. | 46 | 523 | 2 | 77 | 60% |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 105 | 1,304 | 6 | 177 | 59% |
| Calvin Johnson, Det. | 88 | 1,214 | 9 | 149 | 59% |
| Kamar Aiken, Balt. | 75 | 944 | 5 | 127 | 59% |
| Robert Woods, Buff. | 47 | 552 | 3 | 80 | 59% |
| Michael Floyd, Ariz. | 52 | 849 | 6 | 89 | 58% |
| Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 85 | 922 | 9 | 146 | 58% |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 111 | 1,521 | 11 | 192 | 58% |
| Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 54 | 807 | 4 | 94 | 57% |
| Cecil Shorts, Hou. | 42 | 484 | 2 | 75 | 56% |
| Terrance Williams, Dall. | 52 | 840 | 3 | 93 | 56% |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 76 | 1,135 | 6 | 136 | 56% |
| Markus Wheaton, Pitt. | 44 | 749 | 5 | 79 | 56% |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 72 | 1,070 | 6 | 130 | 55% |
| Travis Benjamin, Clev. | 68 | 966 | 5 | 125 | 54% |
| Martavis Bryant, Pitt. | 50 | 765 | 6 | 92 | 54% |
| Mike Wallace, Minn. | 39 | 473 | 2 | 72 | 54% |
| Andre Johnson, Ind. | 41 | 503 | 4 | 77 | 53% |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 50 | 483 | 1 | 94 | 53% |
| Allen Robinson, Jac. | 80 | 1,400 | 14 | 151 | 53% |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 69 | 1,124 | 5 | 134 | 51% |
| James Jones, G.B. | 50 | 890 | 8 | 99 | 51% |
| Nate Washington, Hou. | 47 | 658 | 4 | 94 | 50% |
| Kenny Britt, St.L. | 36 | 681 | 3 | 72 | 50% |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 74 | 1,206 | 3 | 148 | 50% |
| Harry Douglas, Tenn. | 36 | 411 | 2 | 72 | 50% |
| Brandon LaFell, N.E. | 37 | 515 | 0 | 74 | 50% |
| Ted Ginn, Car. | 44 | 739 | 10 | 97 | 45% |
| Dez Bryant, Dall. | 31 | 401 | 3 | 72 | 43% |
—Ian Allan
