Kendrick Bourne
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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported this week free agent wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is scheduled to visit two NFL teams but not the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The possibility of the Pittsburgh Steelers adding another receiver before the start of the 2025 NFL regular season continues to be a discussion point around the team. But the organization hasn’t given a lot of indication that such a move is going to happen. The latest example of that being the case is with veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that Bourne is scheduled to visit with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders next week. Rapoport made no mention of a potential visit with the Steelers.
“Free agent WR Kendrick Bourne is visiting the 49ers on Monday and Commanders on Tuesday, source said,” Rapoport tweeted. “The framework of a deal is in place for both — just in case.”
Free agent WR Kendrick Bourne is visiting the #49ers on Monday and #Commanders on Tuesday, source said. The framework of a deal is in place for both — just in case.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2025
Bourne is a free agent since the New England Patriots released him Wednesday. The Patriots initially kept Bourne on their 53-man roster, but the team had eight receivers, which they reduced to six the day after the league’s roster deadline.
Bourne dealt with a foot injury during training camp and missed the preseason. But NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday he is healthy and ready to play for another organization.
In eight seasons, Bourne has posted 292 catches, 3,714 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s amassed about $28.4 million in career earnings.
But he doesn’t appear to be an option for the Steelers.
Steelers Not Interested in Signing WR Kendrick Bourne?
It’s not completely clear whether the Steelers inquired about hosting Bourne for a visit and the receiver declined or if the team simply hasn’t expressed any interest. But regardless, Bourne starting the 2025 season in Pittsburgh seems unlikely.
The 30-year-old receiver might not move the needle a ton for his next team. But he will bring eight years of NFL experience with him.
Last season, Bourne posted 28 catches for 305 yards. While those are modest numbers, the Steelers only have two wideouts on their active roster who posted at least that amount of yardage during 2024.
Bourne spent the past four seasons with the Patriots. His best statistical year with the team came in 2021 when he had 55 catches for 800 yards.
Over his four seasons in New England, Bourne averaged about 39 catches and 486 receiving yards per year.
Bourne began his career as an undrafted free agent for the 49ers in 2017. In four seasons with the 49ers, he had 137 receptions, 1,945 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
Steelers Have High Expectations for WR Roman Wilson
Outside of quarterback Aaron Rodgers recruiting veteran wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling after his release from the Seattle Seahawks, the Steelers haven’t shown a lot of interest in the receiver market recently.
That could be because of the confidence the organization has in second-year wideout Roman Wilson making an impact during 2025.
Steelers insider Mark Kaboly discussed Wilson on Friday when talking about the team’s breakout candidates on 93.7 The Fan.
“I think the Steelers, if they had a vote in this, they would pick Roman Wilson,” Kaboly said on his daily show. “I’ve never seen a front office or a scouting department inside that — not even talking about players — that have such high hopes for a guy more than they do Roman Wilson.
“It’s just ‘Roman Wilson, Roman Wilson.’ I mean, the other day was like, ‘Watch out for Roman. I’m tell you, trust me. Roman Wilson.'”
Wilson will enter Week 1 as a second-team receiver behind starters DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III. The Steelers also have wideouts Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek on the 53-man roster.
That group has caused a lot of pundits to argue the Steelers should make an addition like Bourne. But while other teams pursue free agent wide receivers, the Steelers have sat mostly idle on the sideline.