Patriots now looking for replacement for Edelman

In announcing his retirement from the NFL, Julian Edelman said, “the wheels have finally fallen off.” Without an infusion of talent at wide receiver in his stead, the Patriots passing attack risks the same fate.

It could be argued, of course, that the collapse already occurred last year, when New England suffered its first losing season in two decades as the team encountered plenty of turbulence in the quarterback transition from Tom Brady to Cam Newton.

But with Newton back again and Bill Belichick seemingly determined to repair last year’s problem areas, the outlook at wide receiver looks increasingly unstable as Edelman exits the picture.

In a free agency period rife with established wide receivers still in their prime, the Patriots eschewed the most expensive options at the position, instead bringing on Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne while spending top dollar on tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.

While that could be a signal the team intends to take advantage of a deep draft class, Belichick has seldom invested premium picks there. But given Edelman’s retirement Monday and the struggles of N’Keal Harry – whom Belichick in 2019 made his inaugural first- round wide receiver in New England, taking him ahead of the likes of DK Metcalf, A. J. Brown and Deebo Samuel – another investment seems wise.

And while New England could go all- in for a quarterback or look elsewhere with the No. 15 pick, the draft should offer a number of different possibilities in the early to middle rounds.

Here are 10 receivers in the draft who could help the Patriots turn the page:

Jaylen Waddle, Alabama: A threat to break off big plays as either a deep target or simply with the ball in his hands on a slant or screen, Waddle might be the best- case scenario at receiver should the Patriots remain in their current slot. And though his breakaway speed can change the complexion of New England’s offense, he’s not a gadget player or a one- note pass catcher. It might seem like a long shot that he would last until the No. 15 pick, but the Patriots might not

GEORGE WALKER IV/ TENNESSEAN. COM Wide receiver Elijah Moore is capable of dominating on underneath routes and regularly beating defenders deep.