New England Patriots: Eric Decker’s career coming full circle
The career of New England Patriots wide receiver has come full circle, as he joins an offense with the Patriots coached by the man who once drafted him…
Following a stellar career at Minnesota, wide receiver Eric Decker’s NFL Draft stock took a huge dip due to a foot injury that prevented him from working out for NFL teams.
The Denver Broncos made somewhat of a theme out of drafting wide receivers with foot issues in the 2010 NFL Draft, selecting Demaryius Thomas in the first round despite his foot injury at Georgia Tech and taking Decker about 60 picks later.
The man who drafted Thomas and Decker — Josh McDaniels — never got to experience the best his two prized wide receiver picks had to offer.
McDaniels traded Brandon Marshall to the Miami Dolphins, gutted the Broncos’ offensive skill position arsenal, and reloaded with two players that would become household names and big contract playmakers.
Unfortunately, McDaniels was fired in Denver before the end of Decker’s rookie season with the Broncos. If he hadn’t been fired, would the Broncos still have been able to sign Peyton Manning?
How would that have altered Decker’s career trajectory?
Decker was a good player regardless of which quarterback was throwing him the football, but having the opportunity to play with Peyton Manning for a few seasons in Denver turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Despite playing for McDaniels for just a short time, Decker holds the Patriots offensive coordinator in very high regard.
Now, the two are reunited and Decker — at the age of 31 — is trying to keep his NFL career going at a productive rate.
He had a down year statistically with the Titans last season but is perhaps in the best situation he could ask for now with McDaniels calling plays and Tom Brady throwing passes.
If you get open, Brady’s going to find you.
It will be very interesting for Decker to have the chance to catch passes from both Manning and Brady in his NFL career. He has only three touchdowns in the past two seasons combined, but has 53 in his NFL career and established himself in Denver and New York as one of the best red zone threats in the game.
One bold prediction for all 32 teams. dark. Next
If he’s healthy, New England really is the best spot possible for him.
Though it’s very late, perhaps that will be better than never as Decker and McDaniels are finally getting a chance to work together for a full season.