The Dallas Cowboys are expected to release wide receiver Allen Hurns, but the former Jacksonville Jaguar shouldn’t be out of a job for long. The New England Patriots current wide receiver depth chart has a lot of upside, but not a lot in terms of proven production. Outside of Julian Edelman, nobody on the roster has ever had any sustained NFL success. The Patriots could use another depth receiver, and Allen Hurns could be a perfect fit for New England.
Allen Hurns, New England Patriots An Ideal Matchup
Bill Belichick has actively tried to create a bigger, more physical wide receiver room in 2019. Defenses around the league are getting smaller and quicker in order to combat the speedy nature of today’s offenses. Belichick has countered by loading up on physical playmakers who excel at using their size to overpower defensive backs. N’Keal Harry, Maurice Harris, Dontrelle Inman, and Jakobi Meyers all fit this description, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more.
At 6’-3” and 201 pounds, Hurns excels at using his frame to haul in passes even when he’s not open. The Cowboys didn’t utilize Hurns that often in 2018, but he was fairly successful when targeted. According to Sharp Football Stats, Hurns had a 102 passer rating and a 54% success rate when targeted. These numbers didn’t lead the league by any means, but they were perfectly acceptable for a boundary receiver playing in a bland, unimaginative scheme.
While Hurns primarily wins with his size, he’s not a bad route runner either. Based on his past film, Hurns is at his best on double moves. Defenders tend to bite on his inside step, allowing Hurns to blow past the secondary for big plays. Additionally, his size plays up in the red zone, as evidenced by his 23 career touchdowns in 68 total games.
https://twitter.com/DLPatsThoughts/status/1153795047856283653?s=20
Of course, Hurns ended his season on a low note. Hurns suffered a gruesome fibula injury during the Cowboys’ playoff run. The injury ended his season, but he should be ready to go for the start of 2019. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Hurns is completely healed and in peak physical shape. Assuming this report is true, then New England shouldn’t worry about a pre-existing injury getting in the way of a potential signing.
Bringing Out the Best In Hurns
At one point in time, Allen Hurns looked like one of the best young wide receivers in football. Back in 2015, Hurns recorded 64 receptions for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching passes from Blake Bortles. The former undrafted free agent hasn’t been able to replicate that production since, so it’s worth wondering how much is left in his tank.
Based on his recent film, it’s safe to assume Hurns doesn’t have 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown potential anymore. Back in 2015, Hurns had several big plays in which he’d break a tackle and then accelerate for a massive gain. That speed isn’t there anymore, but he still has the tools to be a productive member of a passing attack.
Jacksonville moved Hurns all around the formation and allowed him to run a wide route tree. Whether it was seam routes from the slot, crossing routes over the middle, or just go routes, the Jaguars used Hurns in creative manners. This inspired usage wasn’t present in Dallas, as Hurns spent most of his time lined up wide and running the same two or three routes. Josh McDaniels is one of the more creative coordinators in the league, so he should be able to get some more production out of Hurns.
https://twitter.com/DLPatsThoughts/status/1153797681589809152?s=20
Additionally, Hurns still has the ability to break tackles and bring in passes in tight areas. New England clearly wants to get better at contested catches, and Hurns is the man for the job. While he’s only recorded four touchdowns since 2017, he still has the raw tools to make plays in the red zone.
He might not match his 2015 production, but Hurns has what it takes to be a good number three receiver. Considering most of New England’s wide receivers have relatively low floors, the Patriots should consider adding Hurns as a safe, secure option in the offense.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
