New England Patriots Sign Former Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Weapon

The Patriots hold the No. 3 pick. General manager Eliot Wolf said the Patriots are open to trading the pick. While the team needs a long-term solution for QB1, they have other holes to fill. The Patriots filled one hole at tight end a few days before Thursday’s draft.

Mitchell Wilcox signs with the Patriots

According to a statement by the Patriots, the team signed tight end Mitchell Wilcox. The team did not release contract details. Per the statement:

“Wilcox, 27, is a veteran of three NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder, originally signed with Cincinnati on April 27, 2020, as a rookie free agent out of South Florida. He spent the majority of the 2020 season on the practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster on Jan. 1, 2020.

He has played in 48 regular season games with nine starts and has 29 receptions for 211 yards with one touchdown. Wilcox has played in seven postseason games and has added 2 receptions for 29 yards. Last season, Wilcox played in 17 games with four starts for Cincinnati and finished with 9 receptions for 56 yards.”

The Patriots need more WR help

Even after this signing, the Patriots need more pass-catching help for their QB1 this fall. They need to find a true No. 1 wide receiver. A trade down from the No. 3 position could allow the Patriots to draft a top-tier wide receiver and take a quarterback like Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. later in round one.