Kendrick Bourne Isn’t Relying On ‘Seniority’ In Patriots Receiver Room

The New England Patriots brought 12 wide receivers to training camp.

None have resided on the roster longer than Kendrick Bourne. Signed in 2021 and re-signed in 2024, he knows that the depth chart will soon be cut in half. He also knows that being a veteran will only go so far.

But the NFL’s 53-man deadline hasn’t arrived yet. There’s more to unfold out wide before it does at 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 26.

“It’s actually awesome,” Bourne told reporters following Thursday’s practice outside Gillette Stadium. “I think it’s better than it’s ever been from my experience being here. I’m really enjoying it, man. You love to have challenge. You love the environment of competition. It really brings the best out of you. I think it’s just every man against himself. And even every man against each other, it’s a crazy dynamic in a sense. But if we can have that mindset of all focusing on ourselves, of challenging ourselves, beating ourselves every day, I think the cards are going to play out how they play out.”

On a three-year, $63.5 million contract and a two-year, $8.7 million contract, respectively, unrestricted free agents Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins joined the wideout room in March. Also in the fold are 2023 draft picks DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, 2024 draft picks Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, plus the No. 69 overall selection in the 2025 class, Kyle Williams.

Futures signing John Jiles and rookie free agents Efton Chism, Jeremiah Webb and DeMeer Blankumsee occupy seats, too.

“I don’t have any predictions,” added Bourne. “I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do, and I think the room needs to have that mindset.”

Bourne, who will turn 30 as training camp rolls on, stands 111 games into an NFL run that began as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. The Eastern Washington product has caught 155 passes for 1,945 yards and 11 touchdowns since landing in Foxborough.

Ahead are cap hits of $7.7 million and $7.9 million, according to OverTheCap.com.

The stay got underway with Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator. And with career bests, turning in 55 receptions for 800 yards and a handful of scores in 2021. That familiarity has returned to the Patriots along with, from the receiver’s view, potential for involvement regardless of snap counts.

“Josh, obviously I have experience with Josh. My first year, the way we were spreading the ball around was really exciting,” Bourne said. “You can be on the bench and have a role coming in the game. Josh knows how to put it together, so there’s a bigger picture that you have to look at other than right now. You might not be getting a lot of reps, but the play that you do go in, the three plays, how do you make them count? Because those can be plays that change the game. That’s my advice to the whole room, just having experience with Josh. That moment will come. Are you going to be ready or are you not?”

Bourne saw his 2023 end on injured reserve only eight games in due to a torn ACL. At the time, he ranked atop the New England offense in targets, receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. A slow 2024 followed, beginning on the physically unable to perform list and continuing with a brief benching after his activation.

Last season spanned 305 yards and one touchdown for Bourne. But the wide receiver position combined for just 1,718 yards and ten touchdowns by the finale.

Much has shifted since then. Under head coach Mike Vrabel’s 2025 staff, the expectations have.

“It’s not going to be given. You have to earn everything,” Bourne said. “Even for myself, seniority or whatever you want to call it, vet presence, it doesn’t matter. I got to practice hard, I got to show up in preseason, whatever that looks like. Being with Vrabes, you know, it’s my first experience with Vrabes so I’m learning how he operates, how he does things. Adjusting, adapting, I think that’s what we need to do as a group. So not looking outside but looking more internal.”