When the New England Patriots lost Jakobi Meyers to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, we saw Bill Belichick respond by signing JuJu Smith-Schuster as a one-for-one replacement. But the former Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs receiver wasn’t the only talented pass-catcher that the Patriots added this offseason.
Pro Bowl tight end Mike Gesicki also joined the team in free agency, replacing the recently departed Jonnu Smith. One could make a strong case for the Patriots already having a better cast of targets for Mac Jones to grow comfortable with in 2023, yet the front office may not be done adding upper-echelon talent to their receiving corps this offseason.
According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, the Patriots have also met with one of the best wide receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Specifically, the Patriots visited with TCU’s Quentin Johnston, who is in the mix to be the first receiver to hear his name called on April 27, where the Patriots hold the 14th pick.
Coach Belichick was even in on the meeting, indicating that the Patriots have serious interest in the 6-foot-3, 208-pound receiver. While no one truly knows what the two discussed or how legitimate their meeting was, it’s not hard to imagine the Patriots trying to add a true No. 1 option to an offense that boasts some talent but few truly fearful weapons that keep opponents up at night.
As is, the Patriots have Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, Henry Hunter, and Mike Gesicki, but come April, a player like Johnston could very well join the mix, raising this scoring attack’s ceiling exponentially.
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