FIRST-AND-10: Competition at wide receiver heightens

The outlook at the position has changed with five of the seven wide receivers the team added during the offseason standing 6-foot-2 or taller.

Fifth in a 10-part series previewing the 2019 Patriots.

FOXBORO – Short-handed?

Not anymore.

There have been some big changes in the Patriots’ wide receiver corps this offseason.

Yes, B-I-G.

The competition at the position has heightened.

Consider that five of the seven wide receivers the team added during the offseason who will be on hand for the start of training camp check in at 6-foot-2 or taller.

They’ve been added to the mix with the holdovers who will be there, three of the five returnees being smurf-sized: 5-foot-10 or shorter.

Meanwhile, Chris Hogan (after three seasons in New England, he signed with Carolina as an unrestricted free agent) and Cordarrelle Patterson (one and done, he signed with Chicago) have moved on and are no longer members of quarterback Tom Brady’s cast.

The new look to the Super Bowl champions’ wide receivers could pose a matchup problem for opposing defensive backs.

“That’s tough,” said Duron Harmon, the 6-foot-1 Patriots safety who will be trying to measure up against those wideouts in camp. “They’re not just tall, but they’re big, strong. Obviously, going against receivers like that, it makes it a lot tougher on you. With their catch radius, they’re able to use their body to get open a little bit more.”

Opposing defenses will no longer have to contend with the physical presence retired tight end Rob Gronkowski brought to the Patriots’ offense, particularly in the red zone, but now that may have another dilemma on their hands.

“You’ve got to be more physical with (the taller receivers), but you can’t get into too (much) of a physical match, because at the end of the day, they might end up overpowering you,” said Harmon. “You might have to go back and forth with how you’re playing them. Hopefully, they bring some of that mismatch to our offense and do a good job scoring some points.”

The big guys are headlined by N’Keal Harry, the team’s first-round draft pick who was known to post up a defensive back or few during a career at Arizona State. He finish his career with the Sun Devils with 213 receptions for 2,889 yards and 22 touchdowns in 37 games over three years. It goes without saying that the Patriots have big plans for the 6-foot-4, 213-pounder and, during the team’s offseason camps, he showed flashes of the ability (more positive than negative) to step in and help his rookie year.

Veteran free-agent pickups Demaryius Thomas (Houston Texans), Maurice Harris (Washington Redskins) and Dontrelle Inman (Indianapolis Colts) are all 6-foot-3, rookie free agent Jakobi Meyers (North Carolina State) is 6-foot-2. At six-foot and under, rookie free agents Gunner Olszewski (six foot; a converted cornerback from Bemidji State) and Ryan Davis (5-foot-10; Auburn) are the exceptions to the rule among the newcomers and must be considered long shots.

Of the newcomers, Harris far and away showed the most during the offseason but keep in mind that his 28 receptions for 304 yards in 12 games last season were easily career highs for him over his three years with the Redskins. Inman caught 58 passes for 810 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games with San Diego three years ago but had just 53 receptions for 647 yards and four TDs in 21 games with three different teams over the past two. Thomas boasts two 100-reception seasons and five 1,000-yard campaigns over nine years in the league, but he’s 31 and, coming off a torn Achilles injury, is a candidate to open camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Returnees Julian Edelman and Phillip Dorsett (both 5-foot-10) and Braxton Berrios (5-foot-9) all check in south of six feet.

Brady’s go-to guy, Edelman, of course, is coming off an MVP performance in the Patriots’ 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII (10 catches in 12 targets for 141 yards), Dorsett (32 receptions for 290 yards and three touchdowns in 2018) needs to be more consistent, and Berrios is completely unproven, having spent last year, his rookie season, on injured reserve.

Essentially a special teamer, Matthew Slater is listed at six feet. A member of the practice squad last year, Damoun Patterson is 6-foot-2.

If he ever finds his way back to the 53-man roster, the oft- (and once-again) suspended Josh Gordon provides another good-sized target at 6-foot-3. The Patriots retained Gordon’s rights during the offseason and Brady took to Instagram to post shots of him working out with Gordon just last month, but as talented as he is, given his past (last December being the latest example), he can’t be depended on. Before he even re-enters the picture, Gordon must be reinstated by the league for violating the terms of his reinstatement under the league’s substance abuse policy at some point.

Fifth in a 10-part series previewing the 2019 Patriots. Next, a look at the offensive left tackle position where the third player in three seasons will start.