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Wes Welker wants to keep playing, New England Patriots not a realistic option

By Kevin Parvizi

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Former Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and San Diego Chargers (in order from most recent to oldest) wide receiver Wes Welker is still on the free agent market, which comes as a surprise to absolutely nobody. Despite still being OK at moving the chains with 49 receptions last season for the Broncos, the 34-year-old slot man is clearly at the end of the line.

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Even though he’s close to retirement and has major health red flags related to the many concussions he’s sustained over the course of his career, Welker isn’t ready to call it quits. According to the NFL Network’s Albert Breer, Welker told Toucher and Rich that he’s healthy and would like to continue his playing career. In fact, Breer passes along that Welker stated that he “wouldn’t be opposed” to joining the Patriots for a reunion.

As you would expect, many Pats fans laughed off the idea of Welker and Tom Brady getting back together again, and it went beyond the fact that he and Bill Belichick might have a little grudge. I mean, Brandon Spikes and Darrelle Revis said some things about Belichick in the past, and yet both of them managed to play for the Patriots (Spikes is back after reuniting with the team this offseason).

But unlike Revis and, more appropriately due to the reunion angle, Spikes, Welker just doesn’t have much to offer to the Patriots. Not only is the franchise legend 34 with a scary concussion history, but he just doesn’t fit into a crowded wide receiver corps that already has a long list of players who can play the slot.

The team isn’t just paying and playing two talented slot guys in Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, but they also took a flier on former Dolphin Brandon Gibson this offseason (a possible Josh McDaniels favorite from their days with the St. Louis Rams) and have versatile third-year pro Josh Boyce who can potentially play inside or outside if he finally earns a role. Former Cal UDFA Chris Harper also joined the Patriots as a flier, and while nobody expects him to crack the roster, he’s worth mentioning as a young receiver who best projects as a slot guy.

Brady and the Patriots are fans of slot receivers, but even though Wes Welker “wouldn’t be opposed” to joining the team that essentially chose Amendola over him, I just can’t see it happening. In fact, I’m sure very few people can envision a reunion happening, because while it isn’t out of the realm of reason, it just doesn’t seem likely. The Spikes reunion may have a surprised a few people, but they needed a talented, two-down run-stuffing backup linebacker. They don’t need an old slot receiver, and they don’t really need any slot receiver for that matter.

If Welker is determined to play and risk his future health, then I do hope he’s able to find a favorable landing spot. He’s still capable of offering something to a team that needs a veteran presence in the slot, but this should be his final go-around in the NFL. Welker’s lone bit of interest was from the Dolphins earlier this offseason, but the free agent visit with them was never going to amount to a contract offer.

Had Welker done this interview with a show not based in Boston, then I wonder if the New England Patriots angle would have popped up. There’s no real interest here, and any player desperate for any sort of interest wouldn’t rule out signing with a team if asked. Welker will play for anyone, but nobody (not even the Tennessee Titans, who seem to love veteran players and reportedly showed significant interest back when Welker hit the free agent market in 2013) has come knocking.

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