New England Patriots: Chris Hogan will thrive in passing attack
By Nick Ziegler
The New England Patriots have successfully signed wide receiver Chris Hogan after the Buffalo Bills declined to match the offer sheet made for the restricted free agent.
Hogan will be joining a talented Patriots’ offense on a reasonable three-year, $12 million deal. Hogan has spent his entire career with the Bills after going undrafted from Monmouth University, and he will now be going to a much more pass-heavy offense.
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In three seasons with the Bills, Hogan totaled 87 receptions, 959 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns. Hogan’s best season came in 2014 with Kyle Orton as the quarterback for the Bills, as he totaled a career-high in receptions and touchdowns. The Bills have been a run-first team as long as Hogan has been there, and now he will be joining one of the best offenses in the NFL with one of the best quarterbacks of all-time.
For the Patriots, Hogan adds a lot of depth to a wide receiver corps that has been plagued by injuries in recent years. Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman are both very good slot wide receivers, but they have both had injuries cost them time. Amendola had an injury history before he came to New England, as with the St. Louis Rams, he missed 23 games in four seasons. With the Patriots, Amendola has been able to stay healthier, but he has still missed six games in three seasons.
Edelman is the more talented of the two, but he has also been the more frequently injured player in the last few seasons. In the last two seasons, Edelman has missed nine games, with last season being a tough year, as he was only able to play in nine games.
Tom Brady frequently uses his little receivers in the slot, and the high usage has led to some injuries. Hogan’s game-high in receptions last season was just six, which is something that could be matched in the Patriots’ offense in just one half if Brady likes the matchup.
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Signing Hogan gives the Patriots a solid replacement for Brandon LaFell, who was injured in 2015 and really disappeared last season for the Patriots when they needed him.
The signing of Hogan may also be for a possible replacement for Amendola in a year or two. The latter will be 31 years old next season compared to Hogan, who turns 28 next year.
New England has abandoned the running game to a degree in recent years, as they have been using their short passing attack to supplement a running game that has been non-existent the last few years. Adding depth at the wide receiver position with Hogan could also mean that the Patriots aren’t interested in changing their offensive philosophy.
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It is hard to predict in a new offense what Hogan will be able to accomplish as the Patriots certainly paid him a bit more than his statistics in Buffalo show on paper. New England will once again be one of the best teams in the AFC next season as the decision for Hogan to join a winner was likely an easy one.