NFL news: Patriots steal Kendrick Bourne from 49ers

The New England Patriots continue to be big makers and shakers in 2021 NFL free agency, as they pried wide receiver Kendrick Bourne away from the San Francisco 49ers.

The New England Patriots have signed San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne in NFL free agency. They have been big spenders in the early stages of free agency this March.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Bourne had multiple offers in his free agency, but New England was at the front of the line for his services. Bourne has spent the last four years with the 49ers after going undrafted out of Eastern Washington in 2017. He has 137 career receptions for 1,769 yards and 11 touchdowns in four NFL seasons. What could he be bringing to the Patriots?

The Patriots have plenty of use for a complementary receiver like Kendrick Bourne

With the Patriots bringing back quarterback Cam Newton on a second contract, this offseason needs to be about getting him a better supporting cast. New England had arguably the worst offensive personnel in the league a season ago. While the Patriots hovered around .500 for most of the year, this was the worst season in Foxborough since Drew Bledsoe was their quarterback.

Overall, Bourne is not going to be a world-beater in a Patriots uniform. He is, however, coming off career-highs in receptions with 49 and receiving yards with 667. Even in a down year for the 49ers, Bourne was one of their more reliable receiving targets in an otherwise lost season.

It has been very uncharacteristic of the Patriots to be this big of spenders this early in free agency.