5 burning questions the Patriots must answer in 2019

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 20: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the huddle with Julian Edelman (11) and Rob Gronkowski (87) late in the second quarter of the AFC Championship Game game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs on January 20, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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FOXBOROUGH, MA – MAY 23: New England Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry (50) waits for a reception during New England Patriots offseason organized team activities at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on May 23, 2019. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

3. Who is New England’s number two receiver?

The New England Patriots tend to run a very sophisticated offensive system, making it difficult for new receivers to understand all of their responsibilities. Veterans such as Chad Johnson and Reggie Wayne have come to New England and didn’t do much (or, in Wayne’s case, even make it to the regular season).

The Patriots usually target very specific receivers to run their system, and replacing more than one of them can be a challenge. That will be the case this season after Chris Hogan left for Carolina in free agency and Josh Gordon is still suspended by the league.

Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman is back in the saddle for Tom Brady, but the Patriots will need to identify who will be the other starter. Phillip Dorsett is still around, and he should be a factor, but it will be interesting to see which of New England’s offseason additions adapts to the system the best.

The Patriots added a few veterans, signing Demaryius Thomas and Dontrelle Inman to bring some experience to their receiver room. Thomas has the higher upside of the pair, but he is coming off a torn Achilles and is 31 years old, so it is fair to question whether we have already seen the best of Thomas.

New England also drafted a receiver in the first round, taking sure handed N’Keal Harry out of Arizona State. Harry should be a nice tall target for Brady, but it may take the rookie a bit to learn all of the various roles he will need to play in the New England system.

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