David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots have completely overhauled the wide receiver position, but how, and why?
Many people were left scratching their head in the wake of wide receiver Wes Welker being allowed to walk from the Patriots to the Broncos. The logic is there, even if it's unsettling. Welker wasn't flashy, but the Patriots had a known commodity. Without Welker, there is an element of uncertainty with this wide receiver unit.
Rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce are being asked to assimilate a complicated offense. Amendola is being asked to man the slot and quickly build rapport with Tom Brady, as Welker did, while staying healthy, which he hasn't done for two years.
That's not all, though. Free-agent signees Michael Jenkins and Donald Jones are being asked to provide depth and size at the position, despite Jenkins' lack of straight-line speed and Jones' eerie medical condition which brought his 2012 season to a sudden halt.
