The Patriots are interested in wide receiver Jason Avant, continue to look for slot receivers

Wide receiver is one of the biggest needs for the Patriots, after they put out an armada of short slot receivers last season.

The team is working to re-sign Julian Edelman, who is out testing the market, but even that wouldn't fix their issues.

So, they are keep their options open, and apparently have their eyes on recently released Philadelphia receiver Jason Avant.

NESN:

The Patriots have expressed interest in signing free-agent receiver Jason Avant, according to a source. A signing is not imminent, however, and the Patriots have not planned to host Avant on a free-agent visit.

Avant was a fourth round pick back in 2006 and has been with the Eagles ever since. He has always been somewhat of a marginal contributor, and saw his production dip last year with only 38 catches, 447 yards and 2 TDs. He'd had over 50 catches and 600 yards the two years prior.

Avant also continues the trend of Patriots looking at slot receivers, as NESN's Doug Kyed notes via Pro Football Focus, Avant spent 77.7% of his snaps at the slot position.

It's probably that the Patriots are preparing for the departure of Julian Edelman with their interest in slot receivers. They also still have Danny Amendola on the roster, and the deadline has passed where cutting him makes sense. They hosted slot receiver Brandon LaFell today.