© Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
You can’t win ’em all, folks. Not when you’re getting outbid by the New England Patriots, who are laughing at everyone who was concerned about the precipitous drop in the salary cap. They have poached the first player from the 49ers this offseason, at a price the 49ers couldn’t really match even if they wanted to: Kendrick Bourne.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bourne will sign a three-year, $22.5 million deal. Do not be surprised if this turns out to be heavy on guarantees in the first year, partial in the second year and very lightly guaranteed by year three.
The #Patriots aren’t done. They are signing WR Kendrick Bourne, source said. He gets 3-years for $22.5M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2021
Bourne, the former undrafted free agent, joins Nelson Agholor in the Patriots’ new-look wide receiver room. Agholor signed a two-year, $26 million deal. That’s a yearly average of more than $21 million between the two.
And that’s without the other signings New England has made, which include:
- Bourne, three years, $22.5 million
- Agholor, two years, $26 million
- Tight end Jonnu Smith, four years, $50 million
- Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, two years, $16 million
- Edge Matthew Judon, four years, $56 million
- Defensive back Jalen Mills, four years, $24 million
- Cam Newton, one year, up to $14 million ($5 million base, $9 million incentives)
That leaves Bourne with a very, very different looking Patriots team from the one we saw last year and which has Dont’a Hightower and Patrick Chung returning after opting out last season. It will be interesting to see how Bourne, who is notoriously affable and fun-loving, will fit in in New England, which has a reputation for a certain Belichick-ian seriousness.
Bourne’s departure leaves a starting slot-sized hole in the 49ers’ offense and could be addressed through the draft or with an already-rostered player like Richie James Jr. or Jalen Hurd, if it turns out he can stay healthy. Regardless, the 49ers will likely have to add depth in free agency.