It took until training camp had already gotten underway, but Eric Decker finally has a new team.
The New England Patriots signed the veteran wide receiver to a one-year deal on Thursday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It comes after the Pats released Jordan Matthews due to a significant hamstring injury suffered yesterday.
As was building when Jordan Matthews went down… the #Patriots are signing WR Eric Decker, source said. They’ve been in talks for a few days. Will be a one-year deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 2, 2018
New England Patriots Sign Eric Decker to One-Year Deal
Decker, 30, spent the 2017 season with the Tennessee Titans after spending the previous three seasons with the New York Jets. The veteran wide receiver signed a one-year deal with the Titans in hopes of rebounding after coming off an injury-plagued 2016 season.
Decker didn’t have the rebound season he was looking for, despite having Marcus Mariota as his quarterback. He would finish the season with 54 receptions for 563 yards and only one touchdown.
The Denver Broncos initially selected Decker in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Minnesota. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher would spend his first four years in the league with the Broncos.
In eight seasons, Decker had three years of 1,000 or more yards receiving, two of which came with the Broncos. It didn’t hurt to have Peyton Manning as his quarterback. In 2012, Decker led the AFC in touchdown catches with 13, and finished the season with 1,064 yards receiving. He would follow that up in 2013 with 1,288 yards receiving and 11 touchdown receptions.
Decker was a huge part of Denver’s offense in 2013, along with fellow wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. They both were part of Manning’s record-breaking season in which the future Hall of Famer threw an NFL record, 55 touchdown passes. In four seasons with the Broncos, Decker had 222 receptions for 3,070 yards receiving and 33 touchdowns.
In 2014, the Jets signed Decker to a five-year deal worth $36.25 million. In his first season in New York, he registered 74 receptions for 962 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Then in 2015, the Jets paired Decker with fellow wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, and it paid off. He ended the season with 80 receptions for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdown catches. It was by far his best season in New York. Following an injury-plagued 2016 season, the Jets parted ways with Decker.
For his career, the veteran receiver has 439 receptions for 5,816 yards receiving and 53 touchdown catches.
