Patriots pick up wide receiver Kenny Britt's contract option

One of the deepest positions on the New England Patriots' current roster is wide receiver. The team has starters Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan return and the duo will be joined by Julian Edelman, who missed all of 2017 due to a knee injury. Malcolm Mitchell and Phillip Dorsett are also scheduled to be back, while free agent Danny Amendola is expected to get re-signed by the team.

Also under contract with the Patriots is Kenny Britt. And this is not expected to change, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

#Patriots WR Kenny Britt was informed that his option was picked up, source said. He’s back for 2018 and they’re looking for big things out of him.

After signing a four-year, $32.5 million contract with the Cleveland Browns during 2017's free agency, Britt was let go by the team after a disappointing nine games during which he caught a mere 18 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Only five days after his release, the Patriots signed the former first round draft pick to a two-year contract. He appeared in three games for New England and caught to passes for 23 yards.

Now, the 29-year old will get a chance to bounce back from a disappointing 2017 campaign. Britt will be back next season after the Patriots picked up his contract option and will pay him a $150,000 roster bonus on the first day of the new league year. Britt brings size to New England's wide receiver corps and after a full offseason with the franchise could serve as a rotational wideout and red zone target.

The move does not change the Patriots' roughly $14.65 million in salary cap space since Britt was already on the books next season.