Kenbrell Thompkins Release Highlights Patriots' Ongoing WR Development Struggles

The New England Patriots have decided to part ways with second-year wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins, even as the struggling offense prepares to face the Cincinnati Bengals, via the NFL Network's Albert Breer:

The former University of Cincinnati standout was signed as an undrafted free agent last year and showed a fair amount of potential as a rookie. He hauled in 32 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns in 12 appearances last season, and his 14.6 yards-per-reception average gave some hope that Thompkins could develop as a deep threat.

Unfortunately, Thompkins got off to a slow start this season, appearing in just two games and logging a mere 53 yards on six receptions for the year.

His struggles, as well as the Patriots' decision to release the wideout, are a clear indication of just how much the New England offense (currently ranked 24th in the league, averaging 298.5 yards per game) has struggled early in 2014.

Thompkins' release, however, is an even larger indicator of how much the Patriots have struggle to internally develop wide receivers over the past several years.

Drafting wide receivers has proved even more troublesome for New England.

Last year's second-round draft pick, Aaron Dobson, hasn't even been active for the past two contests of this season. His benching, according to head coach Bill Belichick, was for football reasons and not for a disagreement with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as had been previously rumored:

Assuming that there's a possibility the term "football reasons" is really code for "isn't performing well," it might be a better sign insubordination was the reason for Dobson's game-day absence.

If Dobson is missing playing time because of an inability to develop into a serviceable receiver, it would make him only the latest in a series of failed draft picks at the position.

Over the past six years, the Patriots have drafted seven different wide receivers. Only one, Julian Edelman, has posted a 1,000-yard season and emerged as an offensive mainstay.

Edelman and Dobson are also the only receivers drafted since 2009 to remain on the Patriots roster. (2013 pick Josh Boyce is currently a member of the Patriots practice squad.)

	Round-Year Drafted	Games Played	Yds Rec	TDs
Brandon Tate	3rd-2009	18	432	3
Julian Edelman	7th-2009	68	2,053	11
Taylor Price	3rd-2010	4	41	0
Jeremy Ebert	7th-2012	0	-	-
Aaron Dobson	2nd-2013	13	532	4
Josh Boyce	4th-2013	9	121	0
Jeremy Gallon	7th-2014	0	-	-

In the past, New England has found ways to compensate for its inability to develop wide receivers within its system. The team acquired Wes Welker and Randy Moss via trades with the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders, respectively.

The duo combined for 2,668 yards and 31 touchdowns that season and helped the Patriots reach Super Bowl XLII. Welker was a major reason New England went back to the Super Bowl four years later.

More recently, the Patriots found a pair of pass-catching tight ends to help bolster the passing game, taking Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski in the 2011 draft.

The problem is that these strategies have only worked in the short term (aside from Gronkowski, of course). Moss was traded early in the 2010 season and is now retired. Hernandez is in prison, and Welker is a member of the Denver Broncos.

Drafting players to replace their departed weapons has proven a difficult task for the Patriots. Edelman, who has thrived in a Welker-like slot role, is the only one who has really panned out.

This seems like a puzzling trend for a franchise that has enjoyed stability at the head coaching position dating back to 2000.

It is, however, a troubling trend that the Patriots have to find a way to break if they hope to stop the offensive decline that has caused the team to stumble early this season.

Perhaps the Patriots should try drafting a first-round receiver or simply go back to trading for their primary pass-catchers. Either way, something has to change because drafting wide receivers really hasn't worked out.