The New England Patriots will not place a tender offer on restricted free agent receiver Gunner Olszewski, according to a league source and as first reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Olszewski will enter unrestricted free agency at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Had New England used a tender offer with right of first refusal, he would have received $2.5 million for 2021. Other teams, however, could offer more than that, if they wanted. A second-round tender would pay out Olszewski at just under $4 million.
During his three-year Patriots’ career, he finished with 66 punt returns for 834 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 36 kickoffs for 834 yards. While he was stellar as a returner, he never quite developed as a receiver, where he mustered nine catches for 127 yards and a touchdown and six carries for 32 yards.
Olszewksi joined the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent out of Bemidji State, where he played cornerback. New England converted him to receiver and returner.
