The New England Patriots signed receiver Dontrelle Inman to a one-year deal worth up to $1.4 million with $300,000 guaranteed at signing, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Inman will join a crowded receiver group, but this contract showed that the Patriots value having Inman around for training camp, and perhaps beyond that.
Chances he makes the roster: 30 percent
What it means for Inman: The receiver position is a bit of crapshoot for the Patriots. Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry are locks. The rest of the receivers face considerable uncertainty. For Inman, he’ll have to develop chemistry with Tom Brady while getting acquainted with the playbook. Meanwhile, he’ll be fighting with Demaryius Thomas and Maurice Harris, who are trying to do the same. Phillip Dorsett and Josh Gordon will likely both be around as well — they have familiarity in the system, but have issues of their own to manage. As much as the Patriots showed interest in Inman, the team hasn’t provided him with job security. To the contrary, he’s probably on the outside looking into the roster bubble. He’ll have to hurdle a few of his position-mates to make the team. But he has the talent to do so, with one season with the Chargers when he had 58 catches for 810 yards and four touchdowns. He was their No. 2 wideout. He’ll likely be intent upon taking on a similar role in New England’s offense in 2019.
