agreed about the X and the complete lack of that skill set but the presence of JuJu (washed up), Bourne (coming off injury and mediocre) and Osborn (not good and one year deal) shouldn’t preclude them from adding someone if that someone had high end skills. I wouldn’t bet on any of those 3 guys being with the team in 2026, and a good chance 2 of them aren’t around in 2025.So here is to an extent my concern about WR.... a lot of the best guys left are slots... McConkey is a slot, I think Coleman (despite his size) is a slot OR they have significant concerns/similarities to guys they have... Mitchell has effort, attitude, production and medical concerns, Troy Franklin is built like Tyquan Thornton and has iffy hands.
The Patriots need a #1 WR, and X WR... they actually have quite a few of these slot/Z guys (Bourne, Osborn, Douglas,Juju). I think OT is a bigger need, and one that you could reasonably fill in the 2nd (Suamataia is reasonable at 34.. mocked anywhere from the 20s to the 40s most places), and guys like Paul, maybe even Fisher are 2/3 round guys.
Then at 68 (or trading into the late 2nd) you start to have some guys like Javon Baker, Johny Wilson who also have concerns, but are X type WRs.
TL: DR- the Patriots don't need "a WR" they need particular types of WRs, and they might be able to get a similar risk/reward profile for that type of WR in the 3rd where other positions like OT, the risk/reward calculus in the 2nd may well be better.
I’d prioritize a different skill set simply because a good big body guy is harder (or more expensive) to find in the veteran market but if their grades have a non-traditional X as the best WR available, it’s worth considering. They just need talent wherever they can get it. They probably won’t be competitive in 2024 so if they have to wait until 2025 to take an earlier round shot at an X, that seems fine.
barring a crazy season from Maye, they’ll have a top 10/top 5 pick next year to address one of their OT/WR needs (or front 7 if Barmore/Judon need replacing)